New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-12
COLUMBUS DAY IN LAWRENCE

1t is TO be hoped that no serious out
break will take place in Lawrence or
vicinity to mar the proper celebration
of Columbus Day. The |. W. w. now
announce that they will keep away
from the Lawrence parade. In view OF
the feeling aroused against them-a
feeling which they claim has been en-
couraged by the attitude Of Lawrence's
Mayor and Mr.. Haywood, organizer Of
the !. W. W., explains the attitude of
the organization as necessary III behalf
Of the defendants now on trial at
Salem, whose cause would be preJu-
diced if further disorder should take
place in Lawrence at this time.
The whole affair has been most I'M
fortunate, look at 1t how we may. The
strike Of last winter, in connection
with which the prisoners now awaiting
trial are accused of causing the death
of a woman, was complicated demon
stration, in which both national and
state laws came under some condemna-
ton by one or another element Of pub
lie opinion; but it was largely, indeed
mainly, an ordinary strike in outward
intent, aiming at higher wages and at
the recognition of labor unionism. The
short strike recently promoted by the
l. w. W. was, however. of very diff
ferent type, and constitutes one Of the
most remarkable incidents in the his
tory of the old Bay State; for, it was
distinctly revolutionary in spirit and
intent, being purely strike Of protest
against the usual and orderly proceed
ings of the law in OBTAINING the pris-
oners mentioned until they can be duly
tried IN the way really most beneficial
to their interests. The demonstration
was naturally regarded, both by local
authorities and by order loving citi-
zens, as essentially anaTchistic; and al
though Mr.. Haywood now says that the
peculiarly odious inscription, mo God,
no Master" on a banner carried In a
recent parade Of the I. W. w. was not
authorized by that organization, and
tries to lay the responsibility Of these
disturbances on the city authorities,
the public as yet has little faith in such
excuses
The long and short Of It is that the
present situation in Lawrence, however
much or little Of 1t is due to the /. W.
w, Is one requiring the exercise OF
the utmost tact as well as Of stanch
loyalty to the cause Of law and order
1t may be regrettable that Columbus
Day should have happened right on the
heels of what has just occurred In
Lawrence, but that is only one item
among a hundred contingencies that
may or. may not arise. There Is now
not only the Industrial class feeling to
considerable ever present irritant I'M
derlylng most recent strikes-but also
various shades OF social feeling, which
ere equally out OF place in democratic
America. In preserving order a local
government has constantly TO bear In
mind what, every judiciOus pstrolman
bears in mind-namely, that the same
civic welfare, the same public policy
that necessltateS the making OF laws
and of regulations, also requires a due
amount of discretion in the carrying
out or application of those rules Of
order And 1t remains for the citizens
Of Lawrence, as whole, who'are now
1t seems, organizing in committees for
steps Of Importance to realize fully
their responsibility at this crisis, which
may mean so much both to the city Of
Lawrence and to the commonwealth Of
Massachusetts, not to speak at this mo-
ment Of It's national bearing.