The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-30
THE MOYER PERIL.


funeral in Calumet all hearts were
softened and the passions of the
strike between the miners and the
mine owners were laid aside. IT is to
be feared. however, that the events OF
the last week will rekindle the fires
of hate in this season Of peace and good
will and will lead TO more lawlessness.
Acts of violence always invite re-
( taliation. Those who deported Meyer
felt that they were justified, not only
By his conduct while in Calumet, but
By his entire career as an incendiary
labor Ieadey. Their hope was TO stamp
out lawlessness, and they adopted a
lawless method to attain this end. Con
hicts of this kind threaten the founda"
tons of society and lead to great
cataclysms. Iu moments of passion,
however, when men feel that they are
fighting for principle and when hate
has been stirred by acts outside the
"a law, it is useless TO appeal to them
with such vague phrases as the
foundations of society and Elaw
and order 1t is only during crisis
that threatens the life of a nation that
the people generally realize what these
phrases really signify.
When Mover is denounced as a
dangerous man by his enemies, the
members Of the Western Federation of
Miners and union men generally are
rot impressed. They refuse to believe
that there is anything behind the
statement except the animosity of
foe. They do not realize why Meyer
is so dangerous. They would under
stand it better, perhaps, If they con
stantly compared his management of
strikes with the management of
strikes by such men as John Mitchell.
Meyer is perhaps as keen as Mitchell,
but he makes war like a Mexican
bandit. The laboring men little know
the hate that rankles in his heart
against society Wherever he has been
violence has reigned. His soul is
STEPPED in anarchy and he is rebel
against law and order.
1t can matter little TO the people of
Calumet that Meyer believes himself
10 be III treated tby society and iusti-
fed in seeking revenge. The miners
Of Calumet arc DOT bound TO make
common cause with Meyer to vent his
spites or 10 satisfy his desires for
vengeance. The Calumet people should
settle their difficulties among them
selves aud in their own way. The
miners should not BE led by FIRE
brand whose motives arc largely per.
sonal and not 10 the interest of the
class he assumes to represent.
This is not said by way OF cxcusjng
;he mco who were betrayed iuto the
attack on Moycr. II is said for the
purpose of showing that the spirit of
violence and vengeance on either side
. must lead to war, and that spirit of
conciliatiou aud regard for law will
bring peace.
Ii Meyer really wished to prove that
be was disintercsted be would not try
10 go back TO Calumet. He knows that
if be returns it will be a signal
fffor more violence, and if he were u
frieud of peaceful methods he would
lct other labor leaders conduct the
strike. Just as soon as he was able
70 have himself interviewed he an
.enounced that lie would return to CaIu-
met. II was a declaration of war.
"aud he relied upon the injustice that
bad bccn done him TO gain sympathy
and backing for his proposed return.
These are some Of the reasons WHY
Meyer is dangerous to all classes Of
society His auarchic spirit was shown
when ne flung the terrible charge that
Z the citizens Of Calumet were re.
: sponsible for the IRE horror in which b
the miners, their wives aud children
= lost their lives. There has not been a
scintilla of evidence to support the
charge, and now that Meyer is iu