New-York tribune., 1903-03-22

sion that discrimination. WneSae< 1aSoysS 81 is a
soT,onS S,T menace to the discipline Of the mlnss s
| There is no industry In Wnlcn alScsp1 ap1c. nature
essen.l41 i ,aIS for the best discipline: IL 10
! To the interest OF the employer eno enG oIiid
49, - aAe that il is maintained. Eacn SnouIu
pioye 70 oth.r - not only in establishing the best
rnsthods for securing discipline, but IN enorIs ~
preserve It, Discrimination ana MNelAeleiS0
although some reflections on the general .di suT
ject have been made. no discussion o. Tue rine
the Continuance of the late strike would ne a9e
ouate that did not fully deal with the olsotoet
aLio anu the whole region, and throughout the
whole period. It is admitted that this oIs-
iL It's history Is stained with g record OF
riot and bIoodshed, eliminating in three muI-
ders, unprovoked save by the fact Tnat Two Gh
the victims were asserting their rlght 20 n VIZ
ard another as an officer Of the law, was per
forming his duty. in attempting TO preserve tae
peace Men who chose to be employed O5
threate and they and their 1annnee a. tea
rorized and intimidated In seVera! 1nstan5S 1ite5
or otherwise assaulted, and the lives or IN
offending women and children put IN Jeopardy
iiaTies and the men who work them appear
NOT 70 have been unnecessary precauIlO.i'
and the Governor OF the StaSe "hovs iustIaed
in calling out the citizen soldtery OF the coH
monwealth to preserve its peace ana Vinoica's
its laws. -.
connected with the strike, and the presence OF
the armed guards and militia o. tns Ses.S 80 &c
purposes of such persons No peaceaoie or !Hr
abiding citizen has reason to feaf or resent t1e
presence Of either
LEADERS CONDEMNED VIOLENCE.
1t is true that exaggerated accounts OF the tns
disturbances were published, and there was
testimony from reputable witnesses, tenolns 10
minimize them. and Vouchng Tor the eood Or
der Of the communities in which such witnesses
lived: but these were mainly in the locaHtles
where the operators made no attempt 20 "oIA
the colieries. 1t is also true, ana justice re-
ouires the statement that the leaders Of the
organization which began and conducted the
strike. and notably its president con0emneo an -.
violence and exhorted their followers 10
sobriety and moderation. 1t would seem, nov"
ever that the subordinate local organizations
and their leaders were not so anenaoie 10 such
counseIs as to prevent the reGrettable occur
rences to which reference has been made.
In making this arraignment we are not IN
,rindfnI Of What appears 10 be the fact, that the
mine workers of the anthracite region are Az
the main, we'll disposed and good c1t1zens OF me i
commonwealth Of Pennsylvania ana that IL 40
in the power of minority Of the less Tespon,
sible men and boys, together with the loIe anu
vicious unless properly restrained, TO destroy
the neace and good order Of any community.
A bsence Of protest and If active resistance on
the part OF the better element means ,o emeo9e 9e
scribed 1t has been declared by some per
sons that this state Of things is no more
than was to be expected in communities WneTe
such large numbers of men ana Doys were iu1t t
for so long time. If this be So ana II IS iloC
for present purpose 10
the truth Of this statement, 1t anects seEloIsiy
the responsibility of those leaders of LABOR
movement who are in the main responsiole
for the Inauguration and conduct OF slrlhe'
THE GREATEST DANGER.
There can be no doubt that without threats
intimidation and violence toward ohose s ~ o.Lo
would otherwise be willing to remain at Work,
or take the places Of those who had ceased 10
work the coercion of employers, which a strlke ne
always contemplates. would be less PoteiI az
ccnnneIIjng acouiescence in It's demands. Ih1s
is the danger point Of the whole matter Inc
lew which governs all citizens of q free coun-
try alike, can make no exceptions. Inc peIten
cence of labor unions is acknoWieqseu - ~
development, as we view H. mas t peen os rl.I &c
real though of slow and intermittent, progress
to the betterment OF labor conditions anu 10
inaprovement in the relations between eIhpioSei
and employed. All conbinations oL illea, t 80 ~
ever to achieve a common purpose naNe 80 ~
tencies for evil Such combinations are more
than mere aggregations OF the rlsnts .rr, an
powers Of the individuals composing lhVIi!;
TbeI- become new and powerful entities ana
factors for good or i'll. according to the Wis
dom or unwisdom with which they are man
oond and controlled The strike ordered by
trade union. which compasses no NOR; more
than the enforcement Of demands previously 5ty
members lv the cessation from WorK III
the event that those demands are NOT com
plied with transgresses no law or a free socielS;
ar6 whether wise or unwise in inception ahd
purpose is an exercise Of no more than the legaI @
rights that belong collectively or lnolNluuahS
II Is true that the stress thus placed upon
EMPLOYERS may constitute kind or COERCION
resulting in some cases, in an enforced coin-
niance With the demands OF the association or
union Such coercion. however IS not iesai
and does not come within the condemnation or
the law 1t is the indirect consequence OF tne
legal exercise of the right to work, or 10 cease
10 work belonging to all men,
But a strike set on foot with the We" 10 tne
accomplishment OF its purpose by intlnnoaI@lon @
or violence, exercised against those VINO chouse
to remain at T"TH boeyer ' the strike itself
is separahIe from the illegal violence ana III.
timidation which in many cases accompany II
the legal liability for such violence ana III,
tjroidatior rests alone upon the individuals
who commit the act. and those VINO alu,
| enco,ra &c and abet them. Though no illegality
| OF purpose is imputabe to those inaugurating
strike its existence. If it involve large mum.
! hers Of men in a single community, tenos' ol
/ itself to produce disorder and lawlessness.
AS has been said the idle and vicious VINO
! are in no way connected with the purpose or
| object of the strike, often unite with the less
| orderly of the strikers themselves. In creaIns
| the deplOrable scenes Of violence and terror
which have all too often characterized the other
wise laudahle efforts of organized labor to I'M
| prove its conditions. Surely this tendency TO
! disorder and violation Of law imposes upon the
| organization which begins and conducts a
| movement Of such importance a grave respon-
sihilitv It has. ny its voluntary act, created
! dangers and should therefore be Vigilant in
| ayeTtiue them. 1t has by the concerted action
| Of many. aroused passions which. uncontrolled
threaten the public peace; 1t, therefore, owes so
| cfety the duty Of exerting its power to check
| and confine these passions within the bounds or
! reason and of law. Such organizations should
| he the powerful COad1utOTS OF SoNeIHIIleIl III
! maintaining the peace and upholding the law
| Only so can they deserve and attain the respect
| due to good citizenship, and only so can they
accomplish the benefcent ends. which for the
| most part they were created to attain.
HAS NO RIGHT TO EXIST.
n labor or other organization, whose purpose
can onIv be accomplished by the violation Of law
and order Of society, has right to exist.
The right TO remain at work Wnere others
! have ceased to work, to engage anew IN work
which others have abandoned, is part or the