The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-13
subscription 81 50 Per Year, in Advance.
THURSDAY.......MARCH II. 1902
THE NORFOLK STRIKE.


pendence was signed it has been the
right OF every citizen of this country
toaS<<T1s,se his OWL j04sment in all
matters pertaining to himself except
in those matters which uncontrolled
by law, but tnever has been his priv
ilege or right to dictate to his fellow
man as to what he shall do.
The street-car strike in Norfolk and
the threatening riots in connection
Herewith have focused theattenti0u
of the thinking people of the South
upon the dangers which threaten this
section from the labor agitatOrs. A.
its past record will clearly show. THE
FREE LANCE has always believed and
still believes to the very utmost i'm
the right of every man i'm refusing TO
accept conditions OF employment.
whether these conditions relate TO
rules OF regulation or the wages: but
it holds to the absolute right OF every
other man to accept work on any
conditions which are satisfactory to
him. When man is dissatisfied with
his place OF employment he hasap per-
feet right to quit work. The right to
strike is clearly the right OF every
man. but that right does not carry
with it the right to strike other men
who are willing and want to work.
As a rule the labor agitatOr is a
menaee TO good government. His
sole ambition Is To stir up STRIFE be-
tween employer and employee, and
he apparently does not seem satisfied
unless he is causing some one TO be-
come dissatisfied with his Job. 1t isa
fact also that the agitators gOabOut
the Country living in style much
grander than those. whose employee
he is, are able to enjoy. He tells them
to strike, and when he makes such "A
suggestion he knows very well that
they and their families must suffer,
while at the same time his wages
continue.
There is a vast difference between
liberty and license. The average la
boring man fails to discern this DIFF
ference, and as a result the mob spirit
soon becomes prevalent when a strike
y is declared. As to the Norfolk strike,
that's a subject for the consideration
OF the Norfolk Railway and Light
Company and its employees. The
strikers may have had.good causefor
declaring a strike against their en-
plOyers. but that is no argument in
favor Of preventing the employment
OF other men who may see fit to ac-
cept tie positions which the strikers
decline to fill. Mob rule has no place
in America. This is a land OF peace.
Much has been said about the ac-
ton OF Sheriff consolidating out
or requesting the calling out OF the
State militia, but as an officer OF the
law it was that gentleman's business
to preserve peace and order, and at
any cost. Whether he took action
too soon or not is purely a matter OF
opinion.
1t is the sincere desire of all liberty
loving citizens of this Commonwealth
that the oil OF peace may soon be
thrown upon the troubled waters in
Norfolk and that the strike which has
been on in that city for more than a
week past shall soon beamicably set
tied. We rejoice to see that the
Chamber of Commerce OF that city
offered its services as an arbitrator
between the warning elements, and
= as a committee of that body was ae-
copied by both sides in the dispute
withethe understanding that their
iudugnent should befnal in the prem
iSesgit is but right and proper that
the dove OF peace should at an early
hour fiy over that city. f,...-