New-York tribune., 1902-08-01
AT TIE HINES.

There has been no sufficient reason to DOUBT
that the Governor Of Pennsylvania would seiu
troops 10 the mining district if the local au-
thorities should ask for them in consequence
of their inability 10 prevent disorder on a III ise
scale, and his prompt response 10 Tie can ivl
help which he received on wednesday plsh'
ougbt to make those who have predicted that
he would hesitate to do his duty ashamed OF
themselves The American public clearly recog-
nizes the imperative necessity of preserving tue
peace under all circumstances, and American
executives have seldom failed to JUSTIFY tue
trust reposed in them when confronted py
grave emergency. In this instance there "dS
not a moments unnecessary delay Governor
Stones sudden order was swiftly carried out
and the appearance of the militia early yester-
day morning at the scene of the previous nl%ht
rfoting in sufficient force to overawe the mob
made highly creditable addition TO a Sooo
record There is reason to hope that there will
he no further trouble of a serious character. but
unouestionably as many soldiers as may De
needed will be ready to march at a moments
notice.
No fault Is to be found. therefore. with the
manner in which official responsibility has been
borne during the last twenty-four hours. but we
feel constrained to say that Wednesdays out
break was in no small measure the result ol
seeming Indifference on the part of the authorl-
ties TO systematic violations of the law during
the entire period of the strike. 1t is not sur
prisng that ignorant and hotheaded men who
had found that multifarious acts Of intimida-
tion could be committed with imDunity felt en-
couraged to go further. Seeing that men who
wanted 10 work and their wives and children
were not protected against SANDER and insult
that it was perfectly safe to hang them in effigy
10 assail them with threats. TO prey on their
fears and affections. and in a hundred cruel and
cowardly ways TO make their lives miserable
those who resorted TO actual violence
Wednesday night had some excuse for failing to
draw the distinction which the authorities then
drew federation of their less fragrant acts of
Iawlessness for many weeks had naturally dis
posed them to do their worst, and the officers
of the law who trifed with situation which
was constantly becoming more dangerous can
not be held free from blame for what followed.
The president of the Mine Workers Union
deplores the riot, and with good reason. He
says that he has repeatedly warned the strikers
that those who violated the law were always the
worst enemies Of honest strikers. and that is
sound sense; but doubtless Mr.. Mitchell means
by violations Of the law such acts as those of
Wednesday night for he has carefully refrained
from condenning the miIder offences which
have been steadily engendering riotous spirit.
We have no wish to question his sincerity in
condemnlng the final outbreak Of turbulent pas
sions; but If, he reasonably fears. 1t should
prove disastrous to the strikers, he will be
largely responsible for that result inasmuch as
he did far less than he might have done TO pre-
vent IT, We suppose 1t is safe to assume that
he will not take that view Of the matter but he
is much mistaken If he thinks that the general
public, whose goodwill he solicits acquits him
of all responsibility for the occurrences which
he deprecates.
Several of the strike leaders are quoted as ex-
pressing the opinion that the presence Of troops
in the mining region will enable the operators to
resume work. and It is interesting TO consider
whether or not they realize just what that
means. Its natural Interpretation would seem
to be that the operators will be able to hire all
the labor they require soon as public order
has been firmly guaranteed and the apprehen-
sions Of men desirous Of exercising their right
to work for wages satisfactory to them have
been relieved IF that should prove to be the
fact. the strike and its management would be
efectualy condemned.