Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-21

midst of an industrial trouble, as a
result of a strike by the employees
of the City Railways.
There have been several instances
of violent disorder by interference
with the operation, of cars by a large
number of so-called strike sym
pathizers' who have no regard for the
personal safety of their fellow citi-
zens; no respect for law and order;
and an absolute contempt for the well
fare and interest of the community.
Citizens have the right to use the
streets and ride upon the streets in
either public or private conveyances,
unmolested and unharmed The law
guarantees them this right; and the
law will be enforced.
Violence, under guise of sympathy
for the employees, will not aid but
rather injure them in their cause and
cannot be tolerated.
"All persons, under existing condi-
tions, insisting upon and participating
in acts of violence, must be deemed
to have done so deliberately and
when prosecuted for their unlawful
acts, will not be in a position to ask
for leniency. This applies to all per-
sons--to those now remaining in the
employ of the Railways Company, as
we'll as those on strike and the gen
eral public.
The attention of the public is di-
rected particularly to the Act of 1875,
prohibiting the carrying of concealed
weapons under a penalty of $500 fine
and one years Imprisonment and the
Act of 1918, defining malicious injury
to railroads and providing maximum
penalty of $4,000 fine and ten years
Imprisonment for it's violation
"All persons arrested for offending
against these laws will be consistently
prosecuted and must be prepared,
when convicted to suffer such punish
ment for their unlawful acts as the
court may see fit to impose.
1T is the duty of all citizens, at all
times, and particularly at this time to
assist in the preservation of good or
der and the due observance of the
law.
Stroup's Statement Approved
There was universal commentator
among all classes OF citizens of the
announced purpose of District At
torney Stroup to enforce the law
against all persons guilty of riotous
conduct or breaking of the peace
There is no sympathy whatever among
the strikers or their friends with that
element of the community who are
taking advantage of the situation to
stir up trouble.
Leaders of the strike are foremost
IN their declarations that enemies of
their cause are responsible Tor many
of the assaults upon nonstrikers and
others along the street railway lines.
These men declare bitterly that every
outbreak in the way of disorder is an
obstacle in the way of any satisfac-
tory adjustment of the dispute.
1t is said to be probable that there
will be a real attempt to break up the
assembling of crowds behind which
the unruly element accomplish their
iG
those who have been guilty of dis
turbances during the week are not in
any way identified with the striking
employees, but are simply giving vent
to their own natural resentment
against all law and order
Harrisburg has always been known
as an orderly CITY," said a citizen to-
day who admitted his sympathy with
any reasonable grievances of the
strikers, but unless the police depart
ment shows some activity in quelling
these outbreaks we shall soon be the
laughing stock of the State It seems
to me that the strike leaders and the
strikers themselves should organize to
prevent roughs doing as they please
and bringing down the public censure
upon those men who are opposed to
disorder of any kind"
Businessmen and large industrial
interests are complaining with bitter
ness or the long dispute. They declare
that they are the innocent victims of
a controversy for which they are in no
wise responsible and a strong under
current of public opinion is urging n
proper adjustment of the differences.
There is also an insistent public de-
mand that the reckless driving of the
automobiles be stopped. IF we should
have serious accident, as a result of
the use of unlicensed Jitneys," said
one of the city officials to-day, the
city would have to pay the bill"
This is the sort of comment one
hears upon every side and SHOWS how
seriously the people who are not
directly concerned in the controversy
between the Harrisburg Railways
Company and its employees regard the
conditions now prevailing in the city.