The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-24


number given to mob vo-
lence and disregard of public rights is
small one. The great majority Of
the Englsh-speaking miners of our
county are as peaceable and law-abid-
ing men as can be found in any COM
munity. Many of them own homes
and are giving their children the bene-
fits of a good education. A goodly
number of them are active in church
and benevolent works, teachers in
Sunday schools and useful members
of society in whatever relations they
may engage 1t Is not to be believed
of these men that they favor intimida-
ton of other men or the use of mob
force in violation of law. We know
them better than to believe this.
Their neighbors know them better.
Only those persons who live at dis
tance from the coal fields are liable to
misunderstood the situation and draw
wrong conclusions.
The honest and conservative element
among the mine workers has suffered
In patience long enough under the
deprivation and public misconstruction
put upon them by the lawless element,
During this strike, to which they We're
originally opposed, they have gone
quietly about their business, keeping
away from centers of agitation and
possible disturbance and philosophic-
ally waiting for the clouds to roll by.
And now the restless ones have gone
mad in their lawless instincts, the
Sheriff has been forced to ask for and
the governor to send troops into
Lackawanna county, the first in a
quarter of a century; and the effect of
all this must recoil dlsastrously on the
strikers cause.
Is it not time that the latent char
acter and manhood of the reputable
miners were asserted to put an end to
this intolerable situation? There ia
character enough and manhood enough
IN plenty among the men enlisted in
this strike to put lawlessness down il
1t shall assert itself. Let it be under
stood in no uncertain terms that the
real enemy of the miners is not the poor
non-union man driven to work by the
necessities of his family and exercising
In his choice of work a right guaran-
teed to him by the law of God and man,
but the anarchist who seizes upon occa-
sions of this kind to disturb public
order and terrorize the community, or
the loafer, ever ready to egg on mis-
chief and devltry. The leaders amone
the strikers have uttered wise words OF
condemnation of lawlessness, but some-
thing more than words are required to
keep these disorderly influences down.
The leaders are powerless without the
prompt and thorough cooperation of
their followers, and especially Of follow
ers who stand for something, who are
men of reputation and influence.
The regiment is not partisan in the
dispute between the mine workers and
the operators. 1t is on the ground to
protect life and property and to assist
IN the enforcement of law. 1t is there
to serve notice on mobs and mob vio-
lence that such things must cease. In
serving such notice and causing it to
be respected and obeyed it is doing a
service to every honest man among the
strikers and should have his fullest
support. The law was here before the
strike began and 1t will remain when
the strike. shall have become a grim
memory The law is for rich and poor
alike. Each must be made to bow to
1t impartially. The regiment cannot
compel any man to return to work IL
he elects to remain idle. But it can and
must prevent forcible and lawless in
terference' with any man who wants to
go TO work, 1t can and must prevent
mobs from shooting and assaulting per-
sons in the lawful pursuit OF their own
business or pleasure. A government
which would not do these things would
be worse tyranny or a worse failure
than any yet known to history, and the
first to tire of 1t would be the working
men whose liberties 1t would shackle.
The strike is test of endurance
which will so on as before until one or
the other side wearies OF the sacrifice
crnf el.urf.t