The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-24
RIcHMOND'S HUMILIATION.

s=-==---=----=
PICHMOND'S HUMILIATION.
In a contest sucl, as that which has
been going on in this community curing
the past several days many people seem
10 have the Impression that in protecting
the property OF the Passenger and Power
Company, in giving the company extra
policemen in order to enable 1t to run
lis cars without interference, the city
government is taking sides with the
street car company against the strikers.
Rut that Impression is totally and abb
surdly erroneous. The city government
has absolutely nothing to do with the
fight per Sc between this company and
It's employees, 1t has nothing to do with
the question Of wages or regulations or
discipline or what not. The city gov
eminent does have n certain control over
the Passenger and Power Company, but
II has no power TO fix wages. no power
to mako regulations for the employees.
That is a matter for the company and
it's me.l to settle between themselves,
and u ID a matter with which neither the
.ra..ty government, nor the public press,
nor the Chamber Of Commerce, nor any
Organization in the city has anything
to do 1t is private business matter,
as much SO as any question OF business
between man and man.
But 1t is the duty Of the city. the
.,bounden duty OF the city, as far as In its
power lies, to see to 1t that the laws are
enforced, that the Passenger and Power
Company Us protected IN Uhe sights
which it enjoys under the general law
and under It's franchise to operate Its.
cars along the streets OF the city without
rnolestation by any. 1t is also the duty
of the city government to see to 1t that
citizens OF this community who ride upon
the oars are protected from all sorts of
mob violence. II business concern in
this community cannot do legitimate
business without having its property de-
stroyed and Its employees viciously as
sailed; IT citizens cannot ride up and
down tho streets on car without being
struck by bottles and bricks and rocks
and otherwise maltreated. then the city
government is dead failure.
Let us impress the fact that this Is not
a question of wages or regulations Of any
sort between the Passenger and Power
Company and its employees. but ques-
ton of law and order. If the laws are
wrong, citizens have their remedy. If the
laws are wrong let us change them. But
80 long as they arc laws of the land
hn nf ha thew
must be maintained In the interest of
peace and order and good government.
In the'name OF government: In the name
of patriotism: In the name of all that
we as yirginans hold dear. let us stand
up for the law; let us set our faces
against riot and disorder, and let us up
hold the authorities In their endeayor
to enforce the law.
Richmond IS the capital of Virginia, and
one of the chief cities Of the South. The
conduct OF our peiple Is being watched
keenly in all parts OF the State, ii not
indeed. in all parts Of the country, Ono
OF tho Virginia papers said last week,
as soon as the strike was inaugnrated,
that the people In other parts of Vir-
ginia were watching to see how the
people of Richmond would conduct them
selves in this crisis, We had hoped that
Richmond would set an example worthy
of imitation; that she would proclaim II
far and wide that all her people who
have been reared under the very shadow
of tho Capitol respected the law and
would obey 1t implicitly. But that hope
has not been realized. We have had riot
and disordsr; we have had disgraceful
scenes upon our streets, and law-abding
citizens are hanging their heads in
shame. 1t is too bad; II is distressing
beyond expression,
~ The people of Richmond are not riot
Gus people. The great majority of them
are peaceable and conservative and law
abiding. In no city in the land are the
worknsen more generally peaceable and
law-abiding and righteous. The law.
less men OF Richmond are a mere hand
full, as compared with tho population;
yet they have been in evidence during
the past several days. and they have
brought reproaeh upon the whole com
uaunity Cars have been attacked tins
and again: motorynen have been strucl
with all sorts of missiles; property has
been destroyed; passengers have been ii
danger OF serious bodily injury. and SONS
have been hurt; cars have been blocked
and In some instances pandemonium hai