New-York tribune., 1911-11-14

A man named John y. Dix once iilied
an office of great power and influence al
time when forces of disorder and III
surrection were interfering with the reg
ular operation of the governments func-
tions. Public employees in the civil SER
vice were refusing TO obey orders ana
attempting to prevent more faltniul ser
wants from doing their duty. Did this
John A. Dix palter with this civil mu-
tiny and suggest conference and COM
promise to the end that public admins
tratiOn might proceed subject to the
good pleasure of the deserters and their
friends. the mob? No. He declared that
the governments business should he
transacted and its orders obeyed, and
that anybody who attempted to interfere
with the public work should be sum
marilv dealt with. He issued the order
which rang through the land as rebuke
to timidity and a trumpet call to duty:
Tell Lieutenant Caldwell to arrest
CAPTAIN Breshwood. assume command
OF the cutter and obey the order | gave
through YOU If Captain Breshwood
after arrest undertakes to Interfere
with the command of the cutter. tell
Lieutenant Caldwell TO consider him as
mutineer and treat him accordingly
If any one attempts to haul down the
American flag shoot him on the spot.
Another man named John A. Dix mo
relation occupies an office Of great
power and influence at time when
again forces Of disorder and insurrection
are interfering with the regular opera
| tion of the governments functions. Pub
! lie employees in the civil service are re
fusing to obey orders and attempting to
prevent more faithful servants from do
! ing their duty. Murders are being com
mitted The public health is menaced.
A department Of administration is para
! lived by the revolt Of its agents and the
disorder of their friends. Does this John
| A. Dix stand up firmly for law and
order, declaring that whatever else hap
pens the public administration must
proceed without interference. and that
| the governments sovereign power.
Z
house or a street cleaning department.
can make no compromise with deserters
or with mobs? No, He declares that
| the government may well enter into
treaty with its former servants to secure
their magnanimOus permission for its
continued operation and the gracious
consent of their followers to stop COM
mitting murder He made the announce
ment, so encouraging to those who hope
by continued disorder TO gain their ends
and as chilling as Il wet diShrag to civil
loyalty and frmness:
I would advise both sides to get to-
gether. Business men do.
Imagine the author Of the dispatch,
"If any one attempts TO haul down the
American flag shoot him on the spot"
in the present crisis advising the public
authorities to get together with the
representatives Of deserters, brick throw
ers and murderers and fix up traders
deal with them. 1t is easier to imagine
the present John \. Dix, In control Of
the Treasury Department, getting to-
gether' with rebels and as a business
man fixing up the terms Of the govern
ment's abdicatiOn. The first John \.
Dix was an inspiring exception TO the
prevailing puSillanimous policy Of the
national administration in which he
served. The present John 4. Dix might
have found natural and inglorious
place in the Cabinet of James Buchanan.