New-York tribune., 1902-12-09
no THEY MEAN IT9

no
master General Payne's plan to facllltate tne
transmission of mail by attaching letter boxes
10 strestcars should stop a little and think
what their oppostion implies. 1t is based, ac-
eording to their own statements, on one GROUND
and one ground only They do not wish in case
of labor troubles TO find the street railways
onerating as mail carriers. They complain,
according TO a press dispatch, that the use Oh
.tbe streetcars as regular mail carriers VIII
mean that striking employees of the street rali-
way compalies will not be able to opstruct the
free movement of the cars without laying
themselves open TO punishment for interfering
..,,itb tbe Tinted States mails" and member
Of the American Federation Of Labor is quoted
as saying:
We shall oppose any proposition that looks TO
furnishing the protection OF federai courts $500 aiIo
troops to the operation of private enter pios !
emploving a large number of Worhlngnel, uIluer
the guise of protecting the mails
Inst what do labor leaders think such an
attitude means? 1t is clear TO everybody else,
but do they realize it? Do they understand
that ii is tantanount to declaration OF iawiess
and riotous purpose? In connection with thelr
announced hostility to the National Guard II
noints TO violence as their distinct and deliber-
ate aim No labor leader will admit that lH SO
many words When strike takes place and
eret. and say that they should not be held re-
sponsihle for the excesses under stress of anger
or want of ignorant followers who get beyond
their control There is some justice in that
nIea when it is made after sincere effort to
Dreveut disorder and is accompanied by refusal
10 comfort the disorderly and save them 1rcm
punishment But what shall be said of unions
which not merely permit disorder ID time OF
excitement. but carefully prepare for 1t IN time
of industrial peace and take measures to pre-
vent its suppression? That is just what the
opponents of travelling mail boxes are doing.
What harm can come to any law-abiding
striker if the cars equipped with letter
boxes which entitIe them TO the protection OF
the federal government? None. Federal troops
will not compel him to run such cars il he does
not want to. They viii not man the cars them
selves to prevent a tieup. They will not force
the public TO ride in the cars if it sympathizes
with the strikers. They viii not stop the use of
any lawful means to prevent the operation OF
the cars and bring employers to terms. They
will do nothing which local authorities ought
not to do for the preservation of order and the
enforcement of law. Experience teaches how
ever that what local authorities ought to do
they viii do more quickly, firmly and effective
ly if they are called into activity. They Will
not allow a mob TO overturn cars in the street
and burn them, to stone peaceable citizens who
ride in them, TO shoot other. citizens who eXer-
else their lawful right to earn living though
others prefer to be idle. They will not weakly
permit body of men to terrorize a whole COM
inunity account Of private grievance.
That is the objection. and the only possible OBJ
lection, TO federal Jurisdiction over mail carry
ing streetcars. 1t is the objection of the man
who wants not liberty but license. who is look
iDor ard ro N
| to infringe the rights of others. The Senators
| and Representatives who are being deluged
with protests against this improvement in the
| postal service should recall the bold course of
| the late Cushman K. Davis when demands
! were made upon him in behalf of the Debs
| rioters, and the popular response to his stand
| on the side of law and against treason, and
| should take neart to defy with equal boldness
/ the present spirit of lawlessness