Morris tribune., 1917-12-07
MOB RULE OR LAW

The forces of law and order in Minnesota have had
to face the most serious situation this week that has
fronted them in many years. For time there has
been trouble in the cities between the street railway
company and about onefth of their employees who
fit to form union The Public Safety Commission in
teened and appointed referees who spent several
adjusting the matter and arrived at settlement agreed
to by all parties. That settlement then given the
standing of official order by the Public Safety Com
mission, and required that the company should rein
state all the who had struck, and that both the
union and non-union should refrain from wearing
buttons indicating their affliaton while duty.
The union objected to the ordering off Of the
buttons invasion of their constitutional rights
The wearing of the buttons of irritation
both Sides and the order made strictly in the
pubcs interest Both the direct and indirect evidence
is that all parties concerned agreed to this settlement
for not only the of record but the union
organizer left the city. ....s =--
But the members of the union did not accept the
order, and Sunday afternoon, meeting at which
infammatory speeches made was held in St. Paul,
and after the meeting several thousand people engaged
in riot in which many people injured and several
cars wrecked. Street ear service was discontinued.
union convention which was to have the effect of
general strike called for Wednesday, but here
after certain amount of oratory, counsel pre-
vailed and instead of general strike being declared the
convention adopted resolution calling for federal
arbitration and adjourned to next Tuesday
Governor Burnquist takes the position that the
state of Minnesota cannot arbrate the arbitration and
stands by the order of the Public Safety Commission
To surrender because of the riots and agitation would
be incentive to further riots and agitation The
further says that from information he has t is
apparent there is back of the unrest other
for the agitation than the order of the commits
sion."
From the firm stand of the Governor, the intimation
of sinister influences back of the agitation the sens
BILE stand which the responsible officials of other unions
appear to be taking it is probable that the trouble will
be adjusted and the dignity the constituted author
ity of the state upheld.
The unions themselves do not appear to have been
responsible for the riot but rather the hoodum element
in the cities always ready to break out the least
vocation.
The Non-Partisan League again besmirched
by their leaders James Manahan and Joseph Gilbert and
placed in unenviable light. These two spoke at
the meeting Sunday afternoon and expressly pledged
the support of the League Manahan is reported to have
expressly advised against violence, but from the fact
that the riot followed Immediately thereafter is fair
to judge that his remarks provocative than
concliatory. He again at the union convention
Wednesday, and made of his characteristic ad-.
dresses Manahans speech Sunday afternoon is said
to have been regarded the opening gun of his
pagn for United States SENATOR but the pity the
state of Minnesota If it sends of his caibre to
the senate