Evening journal., 1919-11-01
IN DISREGARD AND DEFIANCE OF EVERYTHING

III y
Il Wilson; in defiance OF the mandate OF the Unile
States Court and without regard for public senmen
and public interest the soft coal miners have gone Of
strike.
Their effort win be to shut down the mines to paralyz
industry throughout the United States and to force h
mine TO accede to their terms
Sensing the danger OF the situation the Federal Gov
taking drastic and farreachng steps TO cop
with il and especially 10 protect life and property Regu
lar troops being rushed into the soft coal fields "a
maintain order. protect the properties and safeguard
those miners who desire TO work
In view of threats made by Samuel Gompers, president
Of the American Federation Of Labor the strike trouble
may extend other industries unless marked tact be
exercised in handling certain phases Of the situation
As in the case OF the steel strike public sentiment is
opposed strongly to The soft coal strike 1t is felt that
Of the demands Of the miners unreasonable
that it would be highly injurious TO the public to
sccede them in the face OF threats Of violence
and violence itself
In this connection we deem it wise to call attention
parts OF The eport Of the Anthracite Coal
strike Commission Of which former Judge George Gray,
of this city. chairman. That report had to do with
The great strike anthracite coal miners in 1902 These
apt and aAmercan extracts have direct bearing upon
many things that have and that TO oc
cur in this soft coal strike
There be doubt that without threats intmida-
on and violence toward those who would otherwise be
willing remain at work, take the places OF those
who had ceased 10 work the coercion OF employers.
which strike always contemplaes would be less potent
in compelling acquescence in It's demands This is the
danger point Of the whole matter. The law which gov
erns all citizens of free country alike make no
EXCEPTIONS The benefcence OF labor unions is acknoWl
edged Their development, we view IT, has been one
real though Of slow and intermittent progress to the
beerment Of labor conditions ana TO Improvement IN the
relations between employer and employed All combina-
lions Of men, however to achieve common purpose
have potencies for evil such combinations are more
than aggregatons OF the rights and powers OF the
individuals composing them. They become new and
powerful entities ana factors for good ILL., according to
the wisdom or unwsdom with which they are managed
and controlled. The strike ordered by trade union,
which compasses than the enforcement OF de-
mands previously made. for the supposed benefit OF its
members by the cessation from work in the event that
those demands not complied with. transgresses no
law OF free society, and. whether wise unwise in
inception and purpose is exercise Of no more than the
legal rights that belong collectively or individually to its
members.
1T is true that the stress thus placed upon employers
cases in an compliance with the demands OF the
association union such coercion however, is not IL
legal and does not within the condemnation Of the
law II the indirect consequence Of the legal
Of the right TO work. TO cease to work. belonging to
all men.
but strike set on foot with the view TO the accom-
Npshment Of its purpose by intimidation violence
ercised against those who choose to remain at work No-
iates the law from the beginning Where however the
strike itself separabe from the Illegal violence and in
timidation. which in many accompany It, the legal
liability for such violence and intimidation rests alone
upon the individuals who commit the act and those who
aid encourage and abet them. Though legaity OF
purpose is mputable TO those inaugtaratng strike its
existence n IL involve large numbers OF in single
community tends Of itself to produce disorder and law
lessness.
AS has been said the Idle and vicious who arc in no
connected with the purpose object OF the strike
often unite with the less orderly Of the strikers them
selves in creating the deplorabe scenes OF violence and
terror which have all TOO often characterized the other
wise audable efforts OF organized labor 10 improve its
conditions. Surely this tendency TO disorder and viola
tion Of law imposes upon the organization which be-
importance,
responsibility has by its voluntary act created
dangers and should therefore be vgant in avertlng
them. II has by the action many aroused
passions which uncontrolled threaten the public peace
IT, therefore, society the duty OF exerting its power
TO check and con1ne these passions within the bounds
OF reason and Of law such organizations should be the
powerful co-adiutOrs Of government I'm maintaining the
peace and uphoding the law. Only they deserve
and attain The respect due TO good citizenship and only
they accomplish the benehcen ends which for the
most part they were created 10 attain.
"A labor other organization, whose purpose
only be accomplished by the violation OF law and order
Of society has right TO exist.
1e right 70 remain at work where others have ceased
30 work or 10 in work which others have
abandoned is part of the personal liberty Of citizen that
be surrendered and every infringement thereof
merits and should receive the announcement Of the
law All government implies restraint and II not less
but more necessary in segoyerned communities than
10 others TO compel restraint Of the passions Of men
which make for disorder and awlessness Our language
is the language Of free people ami fails furnish any
speech by which the right OF citizen 10 work
when ne pleases, Tor whom he pleases and what
terms he pleases. be successfully denied The COM
sense OF our people well the common law
orbids that this right should be assaed with impuny
II is vain TO say that the who remains at work
while others TO work takes the place Of one who
has abandoned his work, helps defeat the aspirations
Of who seek TO obtain better recompense for their
labor and better conditions Of life. Approval
iec Of strike or persuasion that IFS purpose il high
and noble cannot sanction attempt 10 destroy the right
of others different opinion in this respect or 10 in
terere with their conduct in choosing upon what
terms and at what time and for whom it may please
them to do
''rhe right thus to work cannot be made to depend
upon the approval dsspproyal the personal char
lcter and conduct OF those who claim to exercise this
right II this were otherwise, then those who remain at
work might il they in the majority have both the
right and power TO prevent others Who choose to cease
70 work. from doing
This sll too plain for argument Common
ennss and common law alAs denounce the conduct Of