New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-30
PROSECUTE BOTH
Capital Deserves Punishment for
Violence as Well as Labor.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: | see that labor officials are to be
severely prosecuted for the employment 0.
gunner and thugs for purposes Of in.
timidation. That is we'll as far as it goes
To be sure, labor is under peculiar tempts-
ton to violence because the whole tendency
in the employment of the police power is to
use it against labor and in the interest Of
capital Nevertheless. if only for their own
sakes, these organizations should be purged
of such wrongdoing if it exists.
But notice that it is frankly stated that
the manufacturers have been quite generally
in the habit of doing exactly the same thing
Where are the prosecutions of the manufact-
urers? do not know what the law in the
dividual labor leader may be prosecuted for
responsibility in such a matter, why no. .
corporation or employe who acts for corpo-
ration in engaging gunner for purposes Of
intimidation?
There is a man in Colorado who will prob.
ably spend the rest of his life-life.--n jail
on a charge of murder, though he was not
charged with the specific act of murder, but
with melting 10 it. Where is the man who IS
ultimately responsible for the persecution,
intimidation. assault and in one case the
actual murder OF those who were spreading
the propaganda of the union? He is not IN
Jail for life, though the end of his subtle
variety of "inciting" was not the death Of
armed men alone, but of defenceless women
and children.
In the Roosevelt, ~ j., case is any one
prosecuting the employers? No. The mis-
cradle gunner must bear the responsible
ity, though do not doubt that the employers
unostentatiously as the circumstances per
NIT. But when the gunner are employed D!
a labor official the police scoop IN the gang
and then go after their employers. We naV'
plenty of law Do we truly have justice?
suppose it will be objected that the manu-
facturers have property TO protect and, "
least ostensibly, employ the toughs for thn
purpose. Poor labor! II has not the plea Of
protecting a plant; il cannot appeal TO our
and carefully cultivated sense o.
the sacredness of property; the rights
protects are intangible-they mag not be
described in a deed or used
as security for a mortgage: they are only
workingman's right 70 hold his job on terms
Of decent living in return for the toll OF his
life II is not fair play. Land and brieSs
and machinery should no more be proteetea
by such methods than jobs; the one IS a.
bad as the other The law fails 70 be Justies
when in application or Interpretation
makes a distinction between acts OF violence
traceable TO the attempt 70 protect bricks ana
mortar and the same acts tracesble TO 'ns
of work or decent working eond''
lions.
An additional point in this connection; +"
: said that the beginning Of this inqu'r,
vas complaint as to the difficulties expeir
,nced oy person, "at that time private de'
ective," in starting a new" union. presu"-
IDLY where one existed in that partieu's'
rade.
Why was a private detective trying to stan
union? One must suspect Have we rea",
embarked on a policy OF using the agen'
Do we like this sort OF thihs,
We Americans? Has our boosted freedom ,so
Is 10 the place where we are in need OF 'n,'
ort OF protection? II seems 10 me cspso'
# bitterly unfair workings; in its very nav
ire inviting abuse, and even at its BEST -
gays OF doubtful justice and morality
me can ever tell whether the crime pu"
shed would have been committed had IL Nv.
zen encouraged and promoted IN so"'
asses almost performed by the police
| am surprised that there has not pee.
more comment on this gradual cropping os'
& bxt
; it not? At any rate, it is dangerous
oisonous. hateful and bad. II persisted :.
re shall only see a crop of popular martyrs
nd a series Of exasperated acts Of revens"
Crawford. n. j.. May %, 1915. G. {. d.