The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-25
uston, Texas, saturday, october IS, 1902
MAINTAINING THE MILITIA.


The New Orleans Picayune severely raps
employers who throw obstacles in the way
OF the State militia:
The constitution OF the United States makes
the express declaration that well-ordered militia
is necessary 70 the safety OF a free State
Louisiana is such a free State. II possesses
effective and well organized body OF militia.
known as the State National Guard, and IN the
last three decades the great value and extreme
importance Of this force in suppressing riotous
violence and N maintaining public order have
been abnndanty established.
Nevertheless, this important force has its
worst enemies among that class which has been
most benefited BY the protection given by it to
life, property and public order
these enemies are among prominent business
men and the managers OF corporations whose
property. and other large interests arc most en-
dangercd wv riotous violence and great public
disorder Even now some OF those persons in
New Orleans are laucutiug that The recent strike
disorders have done great damage 10 business
interests, and yet they are always most On
willing TO permit their employees 10 turn out
with the militia organization to which they be-
long and not a few refuse TO employ young men
who are members of the military organizations
The same illbernl spirit has been en-.
countered in Texas. We have here. also,
an effective militia organization which has
done great service to the public and which
must be maintained Yet It Is always diff
hcut for members OF the militia to attend
drills, reviews and encampments because
their employers will not excuse them
The truth is that many business men are
lacking In patriotism Of the practical sort
They demand good government, but refuse
to make the sacrifice to that end required
of all citizens. Upon occasion. when such
employers decline to relieve their men tenn
porarily, II might be a good idea to let tho
hf In,
opinion has way Of dlsclplining even the
most obstinate cases
The Times-Democrat presents another
form Of resistance TO the state militia,
which is quito as serious:
The incident reported yesterday from Monroe.
Ia, IN respect Of the expulsion from an alleged
trades union OF two members of the State Ma
tiona Guard because they responded TO the or
defs OF their superiors and reported for duty 70
aid IN REFRESHING the laWlG}incss ia this city
Which arose from the street car strike Is en-
titled 10 more than casual 4noticc These two
young men had ioined the militia for patriotic
reasons doubtless, and had sworn as militia
men 20 assist IN uphodng the constitution and
laws Of the State whenever tliey were called
upon i the laws be such that they can NOT he
protected by the state that they volunteered to
protect SO much the worse for the laws aud
for the State The action OF this partieviar
trades union Of Monroe must not OF course he
accepted as voieing the sentiments OF trades
Ni,isiHn'o sNNNRdlNt IOf Whatever their dcsifeg
might be reshectins the use OF the militia In the
preservation Of the ncace trades unouists ne ,
class are rather more intelligent than the Monroe
contingent have proved themselves to he TO,
the action 81 the Monroe trades unionists was
beetle vas ""
The Times-Democrat suggests that II the
Monroe union is chartered its charter should
be revoked, for its action Is in the nature OF
downright anarchy Labor unions must re-
cede from any such position, The same
public opinion which condemns unpatriotic
EMPLOYERS will condemn unpatrlotic unions
and II has been repeatedly demonstrated
that no business or institution can perma.
nently endure in this country in defiance Of
public opinion