The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-04
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TAMPA TEACHES THE
WORLD A LESSON

. WORLD A LESSON .
: Tampa Tribune .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the first time, a Florida court
has pronounced judgment on per-
nicious unionism. BY pernicious
unionism we mean that sort of union
ism which seeks by violent means to
carry out it's ends; which, having
decreed that a man must not work in
him from working by employing un-
lawful methods. This pernicious
unionism has had almost uninterrupt-
It assumed the guise. first, of threats,
next of assault and battery, and then
of murder. Under the pretense of
moral suasion." the grossest crimes
were sought to be excused. The peo-
pie of Tampa tired of this sort of
business. They instituted criminal
prosecution against the leaders-the
men who were primarily responsible.
1t was somewhat of surprise,
doubtless, to the general outside pub
lie. that the people of Tampa showed
such forbearance. They were con-
tent to trust the vindiaction of their
rights to the duly constituted courts.
Three of the conspicuous offenders
were tried last week in the criminal
court Of record, on one Of the several
charges growing out of their misdo-
ings. They We're convicted by jury
drawn from residents Of the county,
who had no personal knowledge of
local conditions. Yesterday, Judge
Gordon, after denying an absurd mo-
ton for a new trial, sentenced the
three men to the maximum penalty
one years Imprisonment, which
means one years service on the
chaingang.
Judge Gordon correctly told the
prisoners, in passing sentence, that
they certainly could not complain
that they had been unfairly treated.
The mere fact that they were given a
fair trial is assurance of this fact.
Few communities in this country
would have endured what Tampa has
endured without adopting more sum-
mary methods Of expressing their dis
pleasure. But Tampa, cognizant of
the fact that its course was being
watched all over the country, chose
the wiser plan. It resorted to form
al prosecution and gave the men &C.
cued every opportunity to defend
themselves. The result speaks vol
umes for the safer and saner method.
1t not only administers the needed
| rebuke-but it condemns the other
method-that outside the law.
And yet. even with this peaceable
procedure, We find that misrepresen-
tation and calumny find vent. Sam
uel GOmpers, president of the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor. whose sym.
pathy with the Tampa strikers has
been of the long-distance variety, and
who has not even done his brethren
in this city the courtesy of personal
investigation of their cause, stands
on platform at st. Louis and de-
ciares that Tampa is a lawless and
disreputahe community: that its
mayor has not endeavored to protect
| It's citizens; that even the governor
OF the state has been derelict in his
duty and has permitted grave out
RACES to be perpetrated without in
curry or interference. Mr. Gompers
will be answered in effective fashion.
His ill-advised attack on Tampa is
cited here merely to show the pre-
vailing temper of unionism. Through.
out the country it has obtained its
information in regard to the Tampa
| situation from prejudiced sources,
from the sort Of men who We're con-
demned in the criminal court yester-
day. Without taking the trouble to
| Investigate, without taking into con-
| sideration the animus of those who
| advise them, they have put Tampa
In the category of lawless cities and
subjected its citizens and officials to
severely unjust criticism
| The Tribune emphasizes the con-
viction and sentence of the three la
Dor leaders in order to demonstrate
that there are more effective meth
DDS Of dealing with such cases than
the summary judgment of the mob. If
all cities should adopt similar plan
they would be spared the humiliation
| or just indictments at the bar of pub
| lie opinion. Tampa has net escap-
ed, even in it's better conduct crit
| cism OF an unjust sort: but it can az
| ford to submit its case to the great
| jury Of the American people. cone
| dent that it will be given the credit
| for proceeding within the law apains.
those who have conspirel against it
The lesson Of the prosecution con
cluded yesterday is that TIE law j.
strong enough to reach the collar Of
any rascal who deserves it. howeve
| strongly entrenched he may be. On
year of penal servitude will probably
convince these three men that coerc
ion by unlawful means will, not BIZ
| tolerated in this country and that
! the public sentiment which uses tn
public vehicle of justice reaches it,
| allotted destination as surely and as
unavoidably as the night succeeds