The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-19
LETTERS FROM THEPEOPLE
Prof. Shaw Says Strike Situation Shows
impotency of Minnesota Laws

In South ST. Paul men engaged in the
packing industry have gone out on strike.
Not content with that they have formed a
picket line and have said that other men
who want to work in the packing indus
try shall not be allowed to work. True,
blood has not yet been shed, but the men
who form that picket line are. many OF
them, armed with clubs. and make no Sc
cret of the fact that those who attempt
to pass the line with view to work in
the packing industry Will do so at their
peril. These things have gone on for
several days in succession, and how much
longer they will be permitted to continue
no one seems to know. The very thought
that such things have happened in Min
nesota and in our own St Paul brings
the crimson to the cheek and leads one
to ask whittier are we drifting?
L would not be misunderstood. I have
no quarrel with the strikers. Their cause
may be just for anything that l know to
the contrary, but the way in which they
attempt to advance their cause is not
No justification can be found for it. The
idea that one man in a free and liberty
loving country should take it upon him
self to keep another man from earning
bread by the sweat of his brow, something
he has been ordered to do by the fiat Of
heaven, is simply intolerable. 1t must
not be allowed to continue in this fair
country of ours. 1t would not be if the
laws of the country were enforced 1t is
not for lack of law that these things
happen, but for lack of more officials
with Sul1lCieII UdChDOIe III lIcui "
Think of the pitiable spectacle that
some of those officials are presenting at
the present time at South st. Paul. The
mayor of that suburb acknowledges that
he is unable to cope with the situation.
Why then does he not secure assistance
that will enable him to cope with it or,
like man, lay down his badge of office?
Think of a sheriff coming to the scene
of action sworn in to do his duty and stat
ing that he cannot secure special deputies
IN n n q
sympathy in the place is entirely with
the strikers, and then ignoring an offer to
furnish twenty-five able-bodied men and
reliable from that same place, who ten
dered their services to act in that ca
pacity Think of the fact that the presi-
dent Of the butchers union can sign
possessed by the mayor of the town or
by the sheriff of the county. Think of
these things, fellow citizens of ST Paul,
and then hang the head in shame and
hunoiIiation at the ineficiency of the en-
forcement of Minnesota law.
Only yesterday deputation of citizens
waited upon the governor in his Office
with a view to have him take the nee
essary steps to secure the enforcement Of
the law. He took the stand that he
would do so as soon as he was SATISFIED
that every reasonable means had been eX-
hausted to settle the difficulty amicably.
He was not satisfied, however. that that
stage had been reached. How many
days of this lawlessness must be allowed
to transpire before he will be completely
satisfied on this point remains to be seem
Suppose that a lawless crowd were to
surround wholesale house on Wabasha or
Seventh street; suppose they were to form
picket line which refused ingress to
any who wished to enter said house to
do duty therein; suppose they did SO
from day to day and that the police SUI
pineiy said that they were unable to re-
move that picket line; suppose the gov
ernor were appealed to and he said that
as soon as he was satisfied that every
means had been exhausted to bring about
an amicable arrangement he would then
take steps to enforce the law-what would
our citizens say Can one suppose that
they would be content to have such law
lessness tolerated for single day? Why
then should there be any difference in
the treatment of lawbreakers in South
lawbreakers on eWabasha or Seyenth street
in ST. Paul itself?
When law is broken it is presHpp0sed
that the offender shall be taken in charge
at the earliest moment he can be reached.
But the lawbreakers in South ST. Paul are
given nearly week before they are
touched and from present appearances
may he given another week before weak
Minnesota law shall lift a hand to secure
their punishment. Fellow citizens, width
er are we drifting in this our own Mime
sofa. which we are prone and Justly so,
to look upon with so much pride2 Law
breakers are deliberately shaking their
fist in the face of violated law and our
officials are waiting in the meantime. SUI
pinely waiting for something from some
where to turn up that will end the strife.
Thomas Shaw.