The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23

esslared that Potter's duty. under higher
Guard. Where a higher law" can be found
than to perform a sworn duty to the State.
that Official does not inform the public
The man could not resign because he had
enlisted to serve three years. He might
have asked to be discharged. but 1t is not
probable such a request would have been
granted at that time for any pretext which
he might have offered. The National
Guard is part of the lawful force estab-
lished by the United States and the State.
and one OF its duties is TO assist the civil
authorities in enforcing order and suppress
ing disorder. A member of the National
Guard can no more quit the ranks at the
bidding of any organization than a soldier
can desert in the face of the enemy in time
OF war
There is reason TO believe, and certainly
the great body of patriotic and law-re-
speeding people in this country hope, that
the president of the Schenectady Trades
Union does not represent the sentiment of
conservative labor leaders. II is now re-
called that he is the same official who or
dered a boycott upon a street railway be-
cause so conductors and motormen re-
fused to join union, or, rather. to organ
ize one where none exists. 1t is fair to
assume that leaders like Gompers and
Mitchell do not approve of such highland
ed and arbitrary methods, because they, as
leaders couata ptlx t,roipo CnporegS IN
pass laws in the interest of labor If laws
in the interest of labor are to be observed
and enforced the laws for the suppression
of mob violence and the use of dynamite
to blow up street cars in which human
beings are riding must be enforced. In
organization has taken a stand in defiance
of the Constitution, which makes all men
between the ages of eighteen and forty
five liable to military duty. If trade
union or any other organization can drive
members out of the National Guard by
threats of expulsion. or other intimidation,
1t can forbid men from serving on juries
where those charged with murder in con-
nection with public disturbances are ar
raigned for trial. If such tyrannical meth
DDS as have deprived a man of employ
ment because he performed a sworn duty
to the State are to prevail, men will soon
be boycotted because they sit as jurors
and convict men of crimes of which they
are proved guilty in connection with a pub
lie disturbance growing out of a strike.
1t should not be cause for surprise that
in New York and in other localities in
which attention has been called to the
Schenectady case, or that a reaction has
started among the Schenectady unions
against the recklessness and ignorance
that would place organized labor in an I'm
tenable position. There can be no patriot
ism in this country that does not stand for
law and order. The flag represents SOW
ereignty whose laws no organization can
ignore and defy, and yet have a right to
the respect of patriotic people. No or
ganization which defies the enforcement Of
law has a right to carry the flag which
is the insignia of a sovereignty because
1t has laws which protect individuals in
their rights. "All men have certain in
alienable rights, among which are life, lib
erty, and the pursuit of happiness" is ar
old and fundamental truth which must be
respected by all. There is no higher, and
there can be no higher law