The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-10

Il having recently placed In
it's constitution a provision
making ineligible 10 membership. eX-
cept in case Of war with foreign
foe, any person member of tho regu-
lar army or navy or state militia or
naval reserve, and requiring the imme-
diate resignation of any member
who shall join either of those four
institutions, the New York Times has
been endeavoring to show how fool
ish this policy Is. one of the reasons
urged in favor of the provision was
that the state militia as used in labor
troubles are practically put at the
disposal of the employers" The
Times says it has never heard of
case where that was true and adds
"The citizen soldiery is called out
to serve the state, the community; to
protect lives and property, and pre-
vent violations of law. AS the vio-
lence of riotous strikers is invariably
directed against the property of the
employer whose service they have left
and aeinst the persons Of other work
men seeking to take their places it is
natural and inevitable that the de-
fensive lines OF the militia should he
drawn around that property and those
persons. There is no instance within
our knowledge where the employer has
assembled his office staff and begun
an assault upon his employees, beating
them with sticks and stones and set
ting fire to their dwellings to prevent
| their going out; but if such case
should arise the National Guard would
promptly and cffectually defend the
employees using ball cartridges, if nee
essary, upon the riotous employer and
| his men. But even then the armed
force would not he at the disposal of
the assaied strikers. II would he
| serving the state and the community
| by preserving public order"
Another charge made against the
militia by it's opponents among the
| metal workers-that it is often called
out without real cause. on "A suspicion
| that trouble is brewng-brings from
| the Times this rejoinder: Troops have
never been called out on mere sus-
picion.' Their aid is invoked in sup
port of the civil constabulary when
| disorder actually exists or when there
| is imminent probability that the order
of the court will he forciby resisted
| That is Compleee justification. The
executive often orrs by delay, never
| so far as We have observed by too
great readiness to call out the militia
Men have a right to quit work when
1
tory. The courts of every state up
hold that right. But organized labor
is more and more taking the position
| that the men have also the right to
enforce their demands by violence and
| by assault and mayhem 10 restrain
other men from taking their places;
and that any interference with their
exercise of that supposed right is OPP
preston and injustice. This is the
doctrine of freedom of riot 1t is the
doctrine embodied in the amendment
to the constitution of the Sheet Metal
Workers association forbiddng their
members to join the militia or enlist
in the army"
The fault for the disposition among
|
their own. When a war is on il is
natural for the belleercnts to make
use of all the means of attack at their
command. The tendency to assault or
| intimidate men willing to take work
that the strikers have left is unfair,
unmanly and unlawful; but it has
grown up by public tolerance. has
| lCpalnrD ~ on p,ri,
low journalism and has gained a foot
hold through the moral cowardice of
the men who know it is wrong and ul-
| timately injurious to those who prac-
tice it, but who fear 10 speak their
! real sentiment against il lest they
should incur the antagonism of the
labor unions. The great bulk of the
men forming the membership of the
| unions are men of reasonable and
honest intentions, who will break no
law that they know is a law and that
has behind it a law-respecting public
| sentiment. 1t is because there Is no
| strongly asserted sentiment behind the
law protecting the worker against the
striker that the latter is often encour-
aged to hurl taunts and bricks at
the former and to drive him and his
family into beggary.
The greatest mistake that the lead
ers OF organized labor can make is
to cultivate an attitude of opposition
to the police and militia forces of law
and order. II puts their followers in
a false position and sacrifices rapidly
the necessary sympathy of the puhlic
Neither labor nor capital can afford
| TO tlout the law, The might which
sometimes tempts them to do this is
not mighty enough to withstand the
might of law-respecting people, once
they are aroused