Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-16
sPRouL TELLS or STRIKE
Governor Pays Tribute TO state
Police for the Way Tickllsh
Situation In Steel Mills
Was Handled
GOVERNOR sPRoUL in writing

GOVERNOR SPROUL in writing
~ foreword to the fifth edition Of
Justice to All--the Story of the Penn
sylvania State Police" by Katherine
Mayo, takes occasion to pay high
tribute to highly capable and efficient
body Of men.
He refers particularly to the work
they did during the steel strike and
justifies the course they took in breaking
up assemblages. Their work was to en- =
force the law and not to give II inter-
probation.
He stresses the fact that most of the
trouble was caused by aliens under the
direction of avowed Syndicalists and
makes point of the fact that the courts
having sustained the authority of peace
officers to prohibit gatherings which
might lead to disordcrly outbreaks, bur-
gesses and local police officials were
given to understand that they would be
upheld in exercising their judgment in
these matters. He makes no mention
OF the fact that their Judgment was fire.
quently called into question, but says
that the result was that there vas very
little disorder and but few casua tiles
in a situation which might easily have
Wv '''p'u ihlV Itlku W t'llOi'
Governor Sprouts article. published
with the consent Of the uoughton Milf
film Co., follows:
DURING the last year the Pennsyl-
~ vania state police has again shown
i'll time of uncasincss its real worth
to the state and to the communities.
Indeed, there was period of crisis
during the early days Of the stee strike
when, had we not been prepared, any
thing might have happened in the in
dustrial centers in Pennsylvania.
At this time conditions were rather
different from any which had hereto
fore arisen here. The American ele
ment among the steel workers did not
want to strike; and. where they were
outnumbered, left their work under
protest, to return to It as soon as they
were assured of protection. The active
elements in the strike were led by
avowed Syndicalists and enemies of our
form of government, and the rank and
knowledge of our democracy and no re-
spect for our institutions. Everything
seemed set for a period Of violence and
intimidation, and plans had been made
for marches and raids upon those plants
and those communities in which the
workers had refused to strike.
MYTH knowledge of these condi-
" tions our plans were laid in ad-
vance, our forces distributed where
they would be needed in case of trouble.
And when the trouble came they were
ready for 1t. In no single instance did
the promoters of disorder get the jump
upon the authorities The sheriffs Of
the counties and the local officials alike
were assured that they would be backed
up by the power Of tho state. General
publicity, too, was given to the fact
that the state authorities we're deter
mined to preserve law and order at all
hazards and that the rights Of every one
would be protected. Our courts having
sustained the authority of our peace
officers to prohibit gatherings or dem
onstrations in trouble zones, which
might lead to disorderly outbreaks, the
burgcsses and local police officials were
given to understand that they would be
upheld in exercising their judgment in
these matters. The state police. as rep
resenting the strength and dignity Of
the commonwealth, were everywhere in
evidence. quietly and inoffensively, but
firmly and detcrminPdly. The result
was that very little disorder and very
few casualties in n situation which COM
bined all of the elements of danger and
which. allowed to develop without in
reference. might have brought about a
veritable reign of terror and dcstruc-
tion in some of the counties.
In meeting this situation and the coal
strike which followed before the steel
strike had been determined, we de-
pended entirely upon our state police
fprnn md tho gn1opI;I
timent of the people of PENNSYLVANIA
which indorsed and upheld the action of
the administration. 1t may readily be
seen that without this organized state
police body representing the common
wealth hundreds of lives and millions of
dollars worth of property might have
been destroyed, the state disgraced and
its law abiding people Inundated and
disheartened. The necessity of calling
out the reserve militia was obviated and
thus a great expense was saved.
TN FACT, from a practical standpoint,
/ am sure that the state police in the
year 1910 have saved for the people of
Pennsylvania more in actual expense to
the taxpayer than the total cost of the
force from the time it was organized to
the present date. 1t is a noteworthy
item in the history of this splendid or
ganization that at no time since 1t was
inaugurated has any disturbance in the
state got beyond its control.
We are strengthening the force, try
ing to improve its already superb
morale, bettering and increasing It's
equipment and providing superior facili
ties for the education and comfort of its
members. We are also organizing q
headouarterS division that will noSsacs