The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-19
LAST WEEKS WORK.

During the week just past the Rich
mond Passenger and Power Company
made noteworthy Roadway in adding 10
its force of conductors and motormen
and in perfecting its schedules NUMBER
of its old employees have ielt the strikers
and returned to their old positions ana
the company9is gisics i satisfactory ser
vice, and its patronage has greatly IN
creased. The labor unions, however, have
not yet withdrawn their embargo upon
their members riding in the cars
There is little fear now felt by the
public that street car passengers. VIII
suffer personal injury, yet pistol shoot
ing and stone throwing has not entirely
ceased especially in lonely localities. But
there has been a marked dminuuon IN
the practice since the capture, red-hand-
ed. in Fulton on Wednesday night OF the
group Of strikers and others who assem-
bled in an alley there to derail car
and to stone and shoot the motornan and
conductor.
OF the men arrested on that memorable
occasion four have been sent on to the
grand jury, and three have been DIS
charged. We shall not attempt TO anu
cipate the Judgment of the courts as TO
these accused persons, but without a
doubt the Fulton attack has affected the
cause of the strikers most injurously.
Candid men among them Will not deny
1t. They may not be ready to say that 1t
will prove the death blow of the strike,
but they cannot but confess that it has
proved to be a staggering stroke-a
boomerang.
The Governor was fully warranted In
bringing the military here in force, and
he is right in Withdrawing them gradual
~. 1t is matter of general regret in this
g community that the State was put to
expense on our account; but as things
stood then it was unavoidable. Here
after Richmond will manage better
None but local troops remain on duty
here now, and the service of these will
be dispensed with as rapidly as possible.
OF course If their aid should be re-
.uuired again they can be recalled tc
duty at the tap of the bell. Meanwhile.
the City Council will provide the Board
of Police Commissioners with all the
money it needs, and the Police Commits
sioners will tndeavor to put the police
force into good shape to control the stu
alton when the military arm Of the State
is withdrawn.
The board is engaged, too, In dscipinine
the police force where it appears that
members have shown sympathy with
lawbreakers or have plainly neglected
their public duties. In short. all the de-
partments of our city government now
seem resolved to face the lawbreakers
sterny. and not excuse either men or
boys who deliberately seek to kill by
the wrecking of cars, or by shooting or
by stoning passengers. motormen and
conductors.
The tide of public opinion against law
lessness has risen so high--the Fulton
incident" has had such clarifying ef-
feet upon the strike stuation-no further
inactivity or dereiction upon the part of
any official. high or low. should be en-
pscted
Another wholesome lesson of the week
was a charge from Judge Witt to the
grand jury of the Hastings Court, where
IN the law with respect to wrecking of or
firing into cars was quoted Such OF,
lenders, when convicted, may be punished
with terms in the penitentlary.
And now we wish to say that It Is
as much encumbent upon Manches
ter and the counties of Henric'
and Chesterfield as upon Rich
Inond city to have ready sutticien
constabulary to take the place OF In
m4itary who are to be withdrawn.
We hope their authorities will lool
into this matter. They cannot afford t
be caught mapping, II this city be mad
too hot for the desperadoes. it Is NOR
than likely they will seek TO do their de
testable work on the suburban lines.
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TIL r.