The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-10
THE LAW As \ sTKrkE- Rgr Akf.R.


THE LAW As \ STRInE- BgIAkfR.
View York in the throes Of great strike
Envoaving practically tbs entire denrte> sys-
IN OF a great city can have the consolation
kno~ins that II still has a Mayor. Neither
~ bullet OF woaid-be assassin nor the
Tnmptaticn Ct d call 10 position holding the
80 OF the highest promotion possible In the
isanary awaited 10 eliminate Mayor GaFuet
lSou the performance o. what he rightly con
St1ers mis- pre-eininent dutt mayor ct q
i6esropol.s rlat be . ngurehead. foni. or
E1enace To the sane administration Of the Law,
can on the other hand II rare5S, prove
neral savior in times of peril incident 81
Skx government Mayor Gaynor. particu.
&xiy, Ms he has from the first is measuring up
& the higher and broader conception Of ais
1Ilncial obligation.
when the express strike broke upon New
Srk. the Mayor looked first to the public ii.
f1fh either side 10 the controversy Instead.
H6lixing the stagnaton that must come 10
lSniness and to domestic life if the strike
enld be long continued, he bent his energies
securing an arbitration OF difficulties. be-
I'm the companies and their employees In
1S- Effort he appeared al first to be remark
Successful With a wonderful display OF
aence the striking drivers al tile. Mayors
estion withdrew their demand for reeog
~ of the unions. leaving for settlement
the question OF the specific demands rela
~ hours and wages. But the companies.
re have recently noted. acting on the
fae Of United States Express and the young
platf refused to arbitrase except upon the
1tticn that they should be entitled TO dts
eSUe any man upon the ground OF his mem.
hip in union. This was a houting OF the
nse question Ii nnllihed the Mayors efforts
8 peaceful adjustment. It went as far be
Gd equity and justice ON the one hand as
E5kcrs frequently 60 beyond il the other.
the lust settlement Of labor disputes the
tering public secs the menace Involved IN
n demand of Labor that employers agree TO
nee only particular class OF men. 1t If
~ afforded the opportunity of noting the op.
sion OF the other side TO the problem, which
rtn that no man shall have the right To work
t9use for his proper benefit, he sees fit to
Gef into d untual organization Of his fellow.
rkers-
S5fayor Gaynor meets this situation III char.
1eristic way He insists that the companies
&dkh have ignored the equities obey the let
of the law No man and wagon that is
licensed may lawfully engage in delivery
Iy1re on the city streets. The licensed dris-
licensed and cannot be. except at great
ense Having been ignored in his effort 10
faK about a peaceful adjustment. the Mayoi
nply says TO the companies that they mus
- the law, We rather imagine that the
Ncerns involved viii determine to do so.
Nhe peculiar need With respect TO strikes
TeNhat they should be subjected 10 control
aims their course Lawful Both sides To
Sky snch conflict claim that the other is act
Illegally. Both sides generally right.
rartiAlly insisting upon law abiding conduct
SSor Gaynor has done the unique thing b.
@fng the obvious thing. IL seems most diff
M al all for officials iii time Of crises TO ap-
\ ordinary remedies. When one does 50 1t
the look Of genius and Is perhaps the
6fnn OF a steady head and strong heart. The
11cious incident Of strikes 10 general is that
xning authorities have In the main taken
ne the two courses. either of which is equally
Sntrous TO the public benefit They have
~ condoned lawlessness in strikers, or In
1pyers. They have borne partially on the
md or the other Mayor Gaynor will
N1Etabshed valuable precedent ii he
solve one OF the most dangerous strikes
16tory by the simple method OF requiring
80 party RS well as the other that, what.
Stt does in its own interest. shall he done
due regard for the interest of the public
{Ae general recognition OF the law