Sunday Washington globe., 1902-05-25
The Meat Riots.


Readers of the GLOBE who take notice Of
passing events may have INDUCED in read
ing some of the New York papers last week
If they did they found some items of in
terest and something over which they may
have pondered and been thoughtful It
will be remembered that during Clevelaud's S
last administration there was much distress,
times were hard and very many people
were out of employment In 1893 there
was financial panic and as a consequence
all the evils of that day were charged 10
the Democratic party. The fact that the
depression was world wide and not local to
the United States was no apology, and the
suggestion that the Sherman purchasing
act may have had something to do with the
panic was pooh-poohed by the wise men
who controlled the Republican party Soup
houses were charged up to Democratic
times and every strike was hailed as an evil
dence of Democratic incapacity to govern.
Times have changed, Republicans control
Congress and the Executive. Strange as it
may seem there are now labor convulsions,
strikes are everywhere and shut-outs and
shut downs are frequent Uneasiness per
vades the very atmosphere and the trades
unions are lining up for prolonged strug-
gle. With Republican orators spouting
good times, protection editors still harping
on the astounding prosperity Of the Ding
ley bill, i" there seems TO be a screw loose
somewhere. But with that there is some
thing more serious than all In New York,
the metropolitan city of the Union, there
have been riots strange in their eccentricity.
Women have instituted and instigated meat
riots, and, as is always the rule the poor
creatures, many Of them with starving
children at their breasts, have been i'm
prisoned and not released until fines are
paid. Some of them could not pay fines,
hence little ones left at home were without
care and distress followed as distress always
follows such upheavals. II may be said
and doubtless will be said-in justification
that they were disorderly and violators of
law. May be sol We will not question
that, but what was the cause Of all this
disturbance and consequent misery A
half dozen firms in a combine suddenly and
without good cause advanced the price of
one article of food to which the poor Great
ures and their families were accustomed,
beyond their ability to buy. They became
frenzied hence the riots. In all candor let
US gently ask what would have been the
universal cry had such a state Of affairs
arisen under a Democratic Administrations
Vyha~a tr,ots11 tha blame T.aya hea,, rfsoeI
them The old and familiar aphorism, 1T
is poor rule that don't work both ways "
comes in good play now, and we call upon
Republicans in and out Of Congress to do
what they ought to relieve such a condition.
Republicans can in less than tweuty-four
hours after assembling on Monday the Goth
of May, repeal the duties on live stock and
dressed meats and at once relieve distress.
If Democrats were to be charged with the
panic of o3, and the strikes that followed
and the ruin and distress that It was said
existed, let the existing state Of things be
charged up TO Republic ms now. And con.
didons can with far better reason be charged
to Republicans than the hard times Of 'o3
were charged to Democrats. But we don't
propose to discuss that now, or draw par
allels or contrasts, but we call attention TO
the fact that one prime article Of food under
Republican rule, under the sacred Dingley
bill, under the sanctitY Of high protection
laws has been practically withdrawn from
the tables Of the poor, and ragged women
with famished babies at their breasts