Evening star., 1902-08-16
The Aspect of Federal Control.

This is a question which is destined to
become one in the near future of far-reach-
ing Importance as the following extract
from the dispatch reciting the proceedings
of the convention will show. 1t said in
part:
There was very exciting discussion
over an amendment providing that no per-
sor is entitled to membership in a typo
graphical union who is a member of any
. state militia. The sentiment was generally
expressed against union men belonging 10
the militia, but many of those holding these
views did not want the typographical union
to go on record against any part of the
government against any individual rights
1t seemed in the drift of the debate that
the amendment would be carried, but later
some strong speeches were made by the
conservative delegates in favor of going on
record for law and order, and the amend
ment was defeated by a viva voce vote,
which indicated a large majority against
the proposition
Much has been said in labor circles about
federal interference in state riots, particu-
larly since President Cleveland ordered out
the federal troops to restore law and order
in Chicago. The ultimate and logical con-
clusion of the views Of those who oppose
the state militia is unwittingly in favor of
federal interference in Nlte affairs, thing
not desired, for, without the existence and
presence of the state troops, the govern
ment of the United States would send its
own troops to any section of the different
states in which a riot, or quasi, or real
bellion was in progress, and put it down.
The government could do this by virtue of
it's supreme federal police power and would
do even If the governor of the state in
which the riot was in progress, showed his
inability to protect federal property, and
the instance warranted the exercise of the
supreme constitutional federal police power.
Individual Rights and Citizenship.
"Bouvier's law dictionary, fourteenth edi-
ton, thus defines a citizen of the United
States:
q" One who, under the Constitution and laws
of the United States, has right to vote for
representatives in Congress, and other pub
lie officers, and who is qualified to fill
offices in the gift of the people
1.-The second and concomitant question
presenting itself is: Is a man a good citizen
who has the privilege of voting for his rep
resentatlve in Congress and other state and
federal offices. yet who as a member of an
organized body of men, is opposed to the
establishment and the maintenance of the
militia of his state and who is, therefore,
more or less in favor or Indifferent to uti-
mate lawlessness as against the maintenance
of the supreme and sovereign right of the
entire people of a state to put down riots
and disturbances within its borders?
How, then. is it possible for man to
legally and properly perform his duties of
citizenship, and how can he be qualified
to fill offices in the gift of the people when
he is pledged against the exercise of the
supreme police power of his state? # a
member of one of these organizations were
elected under his right of citizenship either
as sheriff governor he could not be
faithful to his own pledge to his organiza-
ton and to his duties officer too. One
or the other would have to be broken In the
event of a demand for the exercise of the
function of his Office to meet an emergency.
The Militia and the Public
Under our present form of government
riots should be and put down by the
state troops. Were the whole militia-serv-
ing population of the different states to
adopt the course of the organizations in
question and decline to serve. what would
become ~ the militia? There would be