New-York tribune., 1905-05-12
4 TIMELY REBUKE.

The formal statements issued IN tne name Vi
striking labor organizations are sometimes -
we'll prepared that, if they are not lnlneuldtei'
seen 10 be contrary to established lacts, lhe9
make strongly favorable impression Ihal Is
NOT the case with the address presented 10 tie
President in Chicago on Wednesday by the cou'-
,,,,++oo of the Federation of Labor appointed TO
represent the interests OF the teaHsIerS' II ""9'
ON the contrary. so obviously mistaken In sentl-
mont and temper-indeed, so intrinscally IRA
tionaI and mischievOusly conceived-lhat lhe
President did not hesitate after reading II 10
administer an immediate rebuke to the COM
mittee. Whether or not the leaders who APP
proached him in that fashion nave prohted py
the admonition cannot DOUBT thlt II 10
heartily approved by a great majority OF lhe
American people.
To the committees account of the origin OF
the controversy and the alleged refusal OF the
other side TO arbitrate the President alluueu
only for the sake of explaining that he was
necessarily unacquantcd with the situation. IL
was the part of the address relating TO possi-
bic use of federal troops that elected his in
stant dissent. That the main part or the
address, and this is the substance of it:
Is it just or Is ii necessary to bring the United
States army into Chicago in an effort TO sfhother
the crv of the toer for arbitration? Is II rlsht
or eXpedient TO attempt to sufle the demand IoI
settlement of controversy ny court p'O1
cedure? Is the purpose of the army 10 prevent
the carving out of written contracts that are
open 10 all who to read them! can you'
our honored President afford to use the IorCes
,,nder vour control 10 stife labor's demand Tor
peace and the methods of peace? why shoulu
our attempt to get and MAINTAIN peace De iieI
by the army and by war:
If tbis extraordinary series of explanatory
ouestions proceeded from sheer ignorance, the
labor organizations whose interests are intrusted
rs i'll served a if it had been impudenuy de-
signed to deceive and misead the President ana
the public If after careful deliberation, IN re-
sponse to a request from the Governor OF In
nois federal troops should be sent as last re-
sort to Chicago. they would not be sent thlther
TO smother the cry of the tOiler for arbltrauon'
10 stife the demand for the settlement OF con-
troyerSy by court procedure, to prevent the
carving out of written contracts, to stte lahors
demand for peace and the methods of peace.
They would be sent for the single purpose of
preserving the peace broken continuously and
on large scale in spite of Its natural guardians.
That is the plain and complete truth as to the
matter, and everybody knows it who is fit to
enjoy the rights and privileges OF American
citizenship. Perhaps the preservation OF order
by n military force sufficient for the purpose
would practically settle the controversy against
the teamsters. But neither the President nor
the troops acting by MS aulnorlly WouIu De re-
spOnsible for that consequence. In free coun-
try, bound in a peculiar degree to respect and
defend the law, the reiteraton of fundamental
principle like this ought TO he utterly superflu-
Gus; but experience shows that it must be set
forth over and over again and almost as often
as a labor controversy takes on serious proper
tions
1t is matter of comparatively trivial impor-
tance which side wins in Chicago. The absolute
cessation of violence and intimidation is an i'm
perative necessity, and the public authorities
under the most solemn obligation to bring it
about by the resolute exercise of as much force
as may be required for the purpose. If the
Mayors resources are inadequate, the Governor
will have TO call out the militia. It is most ear
nestly to be hoped that appeal TO the federal
government will be unnecessary. But the coun-
try implicitly relies on the President 10 do his
duty, whatever it may be-