Arizona republican., 1903-07-27
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. JULY 27, 1903.
The Restraint of the AgItatOrs.

We expect to see in those newspapers Of the territory which care more Tor politics of a low order than they do Tor the preservation of rights of individuals a great deal on the subject of govern ment by injunction" The temporary restraining order issued by Judge Sloan against various unions of the Western Federation of Miners will be made the subject of the discussion.
 There was never a time when this speedy and cnly adequate remedy was more properly applied. The business of one of the richest and most promis- ing mining regions of the territory has been almost suspended by reason Of the threatened violence, and, indeed. the actual violence, not of aggrieved miners, for a large majority of the men who had quit work were not az grieved They were anxious to return to work A demand had been made on their behalf which the owners of the mines believed to be unreasonable The mines were in state of develop ment and had rot yet reached the point of paying dividends. At the same time the scale of wages agreed upon by the owners of the mines was as nigh as that of any other district of the terri tory in which similar conditions pre- vailed.
 Most of the members of the federa- ton were willing to accept the scale. They had previously been satisfied with even a lower one. But they could not accept The walking delegate stood between them and the means of earn ing a livelihood. The whole county felt the effect of the idleness and the mines, such of them as were worked at all. were worked with greatly reduced forces. The members of the union were divided, some of them withdrawing and forming what was known as the Pros- pectors' alliance. for the purpose of ridding themselves of the incubus Of the walking delegate.
 There was a prospect of the break ing up of the strike. and it was at this point that the agitators began to bring themselves within the notice of the law. First there were threats of vio- lenee; then came the picketing of the mines and then there was more active interference with operations. Finally an attack was made on a guard and the assassination of another was at tempted and nearly accomplished. There were threats of the destruction of property, and We believe that but for the step taken by the mine owners in applying for an injunction there would have been serious trouble in the affected district.
 There has been no trouble between the owners and the majority of the men who make up the membership of the union in that district. Though the injunction is directed against all who may interfere with the properties of the applicants, 1t was not apprehended that the great body of the miners would be affected by it. The persons against whom protection has been sought are a few agitators and irresponsible men who own no property in the county and who ar. likely to be, in a week. in some other part of the country melting trouble similar to that which they have aroused in Yavapai county.
 On the other hand, the men who have asked for protection have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the development of the district in which they are operating. So far the community has received greater bene- fit from these operations than the own CTS of the mines. The miners them selves have been more greatly benefit ed. The operation of the injunction will therefore inure to the benefit of the community to that Of the miners, to that of the mine owners. and, indeed, to that of all but the men who are responsible for the unpleasant con- dition of affairs which prevails in that district.