The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-14

of Judge Edwards in the
Il case of the commonwealth
against two meii charged
with assaulting a police officer during
u riot in one of our streets. and the
manly response Of the Jury with II
prompt verdict of conviction. supply an
Interesting and encouraging episode for
public contemplation at this time.
The riot out OF which the assault
grew WAS one Of those breaches Of the
law and Of the peace which have been
occurring with increasing frequency in
this city and community since the doc
trine gained acceptance among some of
our people that lawlessness and riot
and anarchy and boycotting are not
only permissible. but desirable and
praiseworthy, if committed in the mis-
taken name of organized labor. 1t
was IL street car riot and the Cefcn-
dants We're clearly shown by the cvi-
Icuce to have intcrtered brutally with
the police officer who came upon the
scene to restore order. In the trial of
the case the street car strike entered as
factor of the testimony and the ques-
tion arose in the minds both of the on
lockers ana evidently also of the court
if we may so infer from the courts ad-
mirable charge, Would the jury pass
upon the evidence feurlcssly in the
spirit of their sworn obligation or
would they yield to the passions and
prcjudices of the hour?
There have been jurics which have
ignored evidence because of prejudice
They may have been more frequent of
late than the general public has been
aware of. Indeed it has been said.
though, ms all may now see, without
foundation, that in the present state of
turbulent GeclinG in our community Il
conviction could not come to pass in
any ease involving luwlessncss stamped
or shielded by the union label. The
jury in his case havc disprovcd that
foul reflection upon the manhood of, our
valley and by 50 doing they have placed
the whole county under obligations to
them
There is no pleasure IN the conviction
Of fellow citizens for the commission
of crime. We tlo not doubt thai the de-
PENDANTS III This case We're less guilty
in morals than the professional mis-
chief makers who. within Il few months
by their uefarious activities among
those of our people who are easily mis-
led, have turned II peaceful valley
into a hotbed of strikes, conspiracics.
boyCotts. ana mcipent anarchy. Ii is
one Of the sad features OF movements
for the uplifting Of labor that where
asitators get a hold for evil it is their
,'uies Who have to bear the brunt of
he'surfeling.
Ifut the conviction in this case is Il
timely serving of notice IN the sane
tuary of Justice that lnwlossncss cam
not be licensed through play of preju-
d'ccs. our people lave borne the veXu-
tlons of the past two years with mar
Neloas patience ana self-control. They
have permitted small mlnorites i'm The
labor unions 20 declare hurtful 6trkcs:
10 hurl boycotts in every direction; 10
lay down the rule and try to establish
IL by riot and anarchy that no man
shall work for u living in this town
in peace ana freedom who does not DAY
union dues; and to practice many othc.
equally hurtful eXccsses. they have
been slow TO move to put stop 10
hese agencies Of dciAoYaiizullon
but they ara moving at last. The