The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-31
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& THE NATIONAL GUARD 3:
/: AND LABOR. 8:
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In recent years the National Guard
has suffered more or less opposition
from labor unions, on the theory that
the National Guard is in!mical to
to labor, and such flaming pictures
as one recently posted, representing
a workingman on the ground. while
a soldier stands over him with Il
bayonet at his throat, represents a
common idea of the National Guard 5
attitude toward labor.
Having been for some years inter
ested in and connected with the Ma.
tional Guard, and familiar with its
duties, purposes and ideals, it is not
altogether out of place that should
say word as to the dutie, of the
Guard with reference to such mat,
ters.
One point must stand out clear
and plain, that the duty of the Ma
tional Guard in time of strike race
riot, or any disturbance of like char
acter, is to preserve peace and order
and enforce the law. just as the po-
lice force does in disturbances of
the peace, and that without regard
to who the offender may be. There
can, be no distinction of person. 1t
makes no difference whether he is a
| poor worltingman. a capitalist, or a
common thug, if he is disturbing the
peace he is guilty of violating the
law, and as such is amenable to pun
1 iS N no a
| Guard is the recognized agent for
! the enforcement of the law and the
preservation of peace and order, |
deny emphatiCally that the National
! Guard is the enemy of labor as
such, but affirm just as emphatically
that it is the enemy of tumult and
disorder. and of the lawless elements
responsible for it,
The vast majority of lahoring
men are honest, law-abidng citizens.
our friends and neighbors, and that
is true whether they have affiliated
with labor unions or not. 1t is not
unreasonable TO say that 80 per
cent of the members of the unions
are law-abiding citizens, but there is
a one per cent who are prone to in
cendary talk, and sometimes to in
cendiary action, as instanced in the
Mcnamara case. These men, com
posing the one per cent, by dint of
much vehement talk, have in some
instances constituted themselves
leaders. and assumed to guide the
policies of labor. 1t is these men
who when strike occurs, and the
militia are ordered to the scene to
preserve peace and order, are fore.
most in crying out upon the 'mur-
derers of the workingman,' and in
citing others to acts of violence. 1t
is this one per cent who say that
the National Guard is the enemy of
labor, when the fact is that the
Guard is the enemy only of the dis
orderly and lawless elements that
may come to the front at such times.
But by dint of much loud speaking
they have brought many of the 90
per cent of law abiding members Of
the unions to believe that the Guard
is inimical to their interests. Why?
Because many men, business and
professional as we'll as laboring men,
think only the thoughts of others.
They believe they are thinking, and
spend much time in pondering what
others have told them, but of orig
inal thought. there is very little.
The Mcnamara case is an illuStra
tion of the situation When the Nc.
Namara brothers were arrested and
brought to trial. there was a great
outcry that they We're being perse-
cuted because they We're leaders OF
union labor; large sums were rails
ed to assist in their defense, on the
theory that they We're innocent and
were being prosecuted; and the mar
try's crown was placed upon their
browS. Then came the confession,
and the disillusionment. Then how
ever the 80 per cent redeemed them
selves and the cause of union labor
by denuncation of the men who
had betrayed their cause by acts OF
violence. Now let the 80 per cent
have a thorough house cleaning, and
weed out the unworthy ones from
their councils. Let the lesson of the
Mcnamara case be burned into their
memories, that they may be led
astray no more by criminals, and by
demagogues just as dangerous as
criminals.
1t is men of that stripe who lead
in the denunCiation of the courts,
saying that the machinery of the
law is used for the oppression of
labor Why have they been so loud
in their denunciation of the courts
in this and similar cases? Because
they were themselves afraid OF the
law, and they sought to do all in
their power to break down the pow
erf and authority of the courts and
of the law, so as to save themselves
from the consequence OF their own
misdeeds.
mo rog1le e'er felt the halter draw