The Alaska daily empire., 1919-06-19
GOVERNMENT BY STRIKE

The Petersburg Report recently condemned a pe- tition in circulation at that place which demandeo that Mooney, convicted at San francisco or muruel in connection with dynamite outrage, committed during A patriotic parade in that city, be given new trial and threatening, and promising the sign CTS to cooperate fin, general strike of live days beginning July 4, if the new trial should not pc granted The petition also proposed second strike in September if the trial were not granted py that time and third fve-days strike in November It was nroposed then, if the third general five-days strike should prove fruitless that there should De an indefinite general strike. When the Petersburg Report condemned this petition, enthusiastic sup porters of the movement got out posters condemnins the Report and it's editor for the attitude taken
 The Empire feels that it would be remiss in its duty newspaper if it permitted this incident to pass without commenting the Report for speak ing out in meeting against this method of trying to force the hands of the courts. The question as tc whether or not Mooney is entitled to new trial is not involved at all That is not for those whc have not carefully reviewed all the evidence and circumstances to say. That is matter for those charged with the execution of the law, and those of the Commonwealth of California, to decide The question raised by the Petersburg petitioners was whether not we are to have government by force and strikes or government by law. It is question of whether to have government by the ma jority or by those who temporarily hold strategic position that would allow them to destroy if they cannot rule There is difference in principle between the position of signers of this Mooney peti-
 
 tion which pxts into @efect rate regulation that the public must submit to or suffer dire conse- Quences. .4sss.N .sea
 This system of making the general strike the court of last resort been tried in Europe, and the result has been anarchy and chaos. It has beer the weapon used by the Boshevsts to enforce theii peculiar theories and there is wholesale starvation and death Large numbers of people perishinf in Europe and great of the country being pre- pared for a return to dictatorship and militarisn by following programs similar to the plan of these Mooney petitioners.
 Government in the United States is government by majority through orderly action. Safeguards ar thrown about human life. No man can be sentenced for crime unless there verdict by jury. Th' verdiets of uries and judgments of trial courts ar subject to review by higher courts and finally pow CT to stay the hand of the law is vested in board of pardon and Governors The people elect th Governors Under the circumstances, there is yninmum of danger that anyone may suffer unjustl if he ayails himself of his lawful remedies.
 There is need in free America for mob disre gard of the law, the of force in any way If our country survive, progress must be alon orderly and lawful lines, and the courts must b kept free from intimidation.
 It is as wrong for laboring men to attempt t intimidate and force the action of the courts as would be for powerful monied interests to do so