The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-07-22

Dulath. MINI. 4
lIllllllIi 80
laws In this country. A number Of
men drop their tools, assemble in I, hall
and discuss grievances" When the
last man has spoken, the question OF
Il strike ~ submitted to a vote, and
if carried il the affirmative, the pre-
siding officer IL empowered to announce
to the world that war is on. From
that time on, or until the strike is de-
clared OH, a. It was declared on, and
by the same people, the chairman Of
that strike meeting supplants presi-
dent, governor, mayor and chief Of
police; and his executive ORDERS
cake the place Of constitutions and laws
and ordinances; the old men and their
wives. the young men and their sweet
hearts, the small boy and the smaller
girl begin getting ready" purchase
weapons, arrange hours OF duty and
zones Of war;" form in platoons on
prominent street corners, and drill In
parks and public grounds. The public
are duly warned Of danger in the pur-
suit of their daily evocations, and all
men who, like the three Hebrew chill
dren, refuse to obey the orders Of the
'chairman" are slugged. shot or carved
into ribbons. just al they happen to
fall into the hands Of male or female
hyenas. The police are told Ito take
care" and the officers OF the courts
are warned that they hold their Of
flee by the favor Of "the people," and
that the. will Of the people" is the
sovereign law. The streets are de-
verified; business paralyzed; the in
habitants Of the city are thrown into
a panic, and unless federal troops soon
appear on the scene and Calling guns
lumber along the principal thorough
fares. life and liberty are insecure. The
papers talk Of peace and compromises;
and some Of small circulation may
even speak about the unwisdom Of
violence. The mob Is only urged on to
excess by the rout of the guardians of
the law and the opponents Of public
opinion.
These papers have yet on sale the
numbers. in which the conduct of the
anarchist In Russia was applauded,
and the attempts at revolution were
defended, on the very principles now
invoked by the Chicago strikers. This
is getting to be an internal country,
FOR in it no longer order" but in
dustrial horror" reigns. The first du-
ty of a government is to its citizens;
and the first right Of the citizen 10 pro-
lection; protection Of life, liberty and
\ hn
governments protect us when we do
not need protection; when we need it
they in the most cowardly way aban-
don US the mercy of unions.
These men who are setting law at
defiance In Chicago should be taught
the lesson that their fellows in anarchy
have been taught In France, Germany
and Belgium. They have not yet learn
ed that strike riots have been elimanat-
ed from the program Of the unions in
those countries. We shall not speak
Of Russia, for there may have been
some cause for popular violence; but
in every country in the world where
the people participate in the govern
! ment, the striker who takes up arms
Is considered murderer, or lnadman,
and he is treated as such. We have
had all the labor riots in this country
we propose to stand; and this reign of
terror in Chicago will be a short,
| sharp, and" we hope, "a decisive ac-
| ton" Democracy. does not mean mob
rule; tho government Of the people,
! for the people and by the people" does
not mean a government Of unions, for
| unions and by unions" and the soon
| or the latter find that out, the better
for all concerned.
We have no faith in the police. The
courts are oftentimes secretly in SYM
pathy with the strikers. The militia
are often in league with the rioters
The only sure protection CT law and
order IL the presence Of regulars. One
regiment of artillery rolling along
Wabash avenue will bring those howl
ing rioters to their senses. Those ugly
frowning field pieces have no pity on
"down-trodden" workmen and suffer
! ing" seamstresses when they treat the
public with impromptu showers Of
brickbats. Those stolid gunners do not
look into the faces of the men who are
bowling. In front of them. Cannon
balls make ready passage for people
and wagons through INSTRUCTED streets,
and make the thoughts Of the most
violent readily turn to home. The day
Of the riot hero is passed, and the size
Of the throng no longer relieves its
members of the character Of rowdies.
We are tired Of strikes and unions,
and closed shops, and workingmen's
tyranny; and the sooner the last-nam-
ed realize that they have reached the
dead-line the better. a
'"The courts are oftentimes secretly
In sympathy with the strikers. The
militia are, often in league with the
rioters" That is about the limit We
suppose the gentleman had Colorado
in mind when he made the above state
mems. The editor Of the "Swttchmenn