The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-12
law AND ORDER.

President Roosevelt, In has conIer-
ence with the labor leaders OF the
Chicago strike laid down principle
that II would be we'll for labor leaders
and Others to follow. According to
The dispatches published in yesterday
mornings Astorian. four representa-
tiyes of organized labor held a con-
ference with the president and pre-
sented a retiion to him. requesting
that he make thorough investiga-
siou before calling out the federal
troops to suppress mob violence. As
soon as thu president finished reading
the petition he expressed himself as
regretting that they had suggested the
possibility of calling for federal troops
meaning that no Americana citizen
should be required to call upon the
abmY to suppress mob violence. 1t
being duty enjoined upon every
citizen to see that the laws are obeyed.
sIn every effort OF Mayor Dunno to
prevent violence by mob or individual
to see that laws are obeyed and order
preserved, he has the hearty support
of the president of the United States
and in my judgment he should have
that Of every good citizen Of the Unit
ed States"
Thus did the president Of the Unit
ed States rsbuke mob violence in Chi
cago. 1t was notice upon the violat-
ors of law that the entire army or the
United States was at the disposal OF
Mayor Dunno of Chicago If need be to
put a stop to lawlessness. 1t was a
statement that the laws Of the land
were higher than the opinions OF indi-
yiduals and they would be enforced
with all the power of governmental au-
thority.
''Mr. Shea, / can only repeat what
have said. l am a believer in unions.
am an honorary member of one
union. But unions must obey the laws
lust as every corporation. every man,
rich or poor must obey law. II any
action is called for by me ! shall try
to do exact justice under the law to
every man."
when the labor unions OF the Unit
ed States follow the advice given BY
the president of the United States ther
win they have the support and SYM
pathy of every honest man in th'
United States. No labor organization
will ever be successful that attempts
10 enforce its demands by murder
arson and mob law. There Is not
government in the world that will per
NIT the lawless element to dictate
terms Of settlement Of a strike anC
organize mobs composed Of the lawlesi
and vicious dregs of humanity to en-
force a settlement, and in the inter
view between the president and tn
labor leaders he emphatically I'm
pressed this upon their minds leavinI
no room for equivocation or doubt a
to the policy to be pursued by the fed
eral authorities.
There was an agreement between tn
labor leaders that there should be n
mob violence in Chicago during tn
presidents visit, but he had scarcel
passed over Michigan avenue in tn
parade than three men were Stable
and one shot by a rioting mob. Whe
cared they that the chief executive
the nation was guest Of the city
They have no respect for the govcerr
ment nor It's officials and much lei
for law and order. Labor unions
Chicago claimed to the president th'
they had endeavored to maintain la
and order during the strike. II th'
had, what was the use Of making
agreement that there should be
disorders during the presidents visi
President Roosevelt was appraised
these facts. He knows and unde
stands every phase Of the situatid
He knows of every act of violen'
every murder committed by strike
and IL it should become necessary
call for the federal troops to supprt
the mob, there is no possible questi
but that they will be sent and
Chicago anarchists compelled to
spect the law if it has to be at
end of a gun in the hands Of Un
ed states soldier.
There was no equivocation, no ser
mentality IN President Rooseye
statements to the labor leaders.
words could not be misconstrued. III
were not susceptible OF double c.
struction. They were shoulder str
ers uttered by a man whom this
tion honors and loves and who
the moral courage to see that the "a
of the country are obeyed, not Q