New-York tribune., 1901-07-27
THE MAYOR OF MKEESPORT.

There are some indications that Mayor Black
Of McKeesport, Penn, has gained new and
much needed light on the subject to which his
remarkable proclamation of Wednesday related.
He then said that he should forbid non-union
workmen 10 enter the city. and that II they
nevertheless appeared he should give them the
choice of departing at once or going TO the
workhouse; that he should not permit the police
to protect the property Of mill owners in case
Ii were endangered by an effort to resume oper-
atioDs. and that the presence Of deputy sheriffs
would not be allowed unless it became obvious
that the police unable TO preserve the
peace Yesterday, when report that two OF
the plants were to be opened on Monday had
caused some excitement, the Mayor refralned
from repeating his original warning, and con-
tented himself with n comparatively reasonable
statement to the effect that he should not per
nit crowds to gather in the streets or tolerate
disorder of any kind; that employees who desired
to continue al work would be fully protected;
that imported laborers were not wanted at
McKeesport, and that he should do what he
could to discourage them from coming
A natural inference Is that since Wednesday
Mayor Black has taken into serious account the
fact that in case property should be destroyed
because he refused to let the police protect it
his proclamation and conduct would furnish
substantial basis for damage suit against the
municipal corporation over which he presides.
That view of the matter which must already
have impressed the intelligent citizens OF
McKeesport was forcibly presented 10 their
consideration Yesterday by the manager of the
Wood plant. who said that ii would he put in
operation within a few days and added:
Should our men he interfered with we shall
Insist on the police doing their duty. If Mayor
Black should carry the lines he has laid
down in his statement, shall sue him ana
.'the city of Mckeesport, for the w. Devices
Wood people are heavy taxpayers in the city
''and must he protected.
If Mayor Black believes that an attempt TO
reopen the works would be unfortunate for all
concerned just at this time. IT is his right and
perhaps his duty to urge the managers TO abide
by his judgment For reasons satisfactory to
themselves they have thus far preferred not TO
try 10 resume OPERATIONS and efforts such
are said TO have been made 10 persuade them
to pursue that policy of inaction for while
longer are perfectly legitimate. But persons
who. wherever their sympathies may lie. keep
their heads clear could not for a moment
support the Mayor in his determination TO lock
UP men who might be willing to work for the
wages offered them and to forbid the police 70
protect property which mob might choose 10
destroy rather than have the mills opened. The
mere announcement of such an official position
shows how utterly untenabIe il is in law and
morals, and we hope it is safe 10 assume that
Mayor Black has recognized the impossbility
of maintaining il. He declared on Wednesday
that he had not taken either side in the strike,
but he was radically wrong If he supposed that
his edict put him on the side of public order.
The thing which he was actually promoting was
anarchy