Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-14
..JANUARY a. leo
LARRAzoLO AND THE STRIKE.

At the request of the Central Labor
union of this city. the Journal pub
fishes elsewhere a brief prepared by
Mayor A. T, Hannett of Gallup and
sent 10 Governor I.arra2olo TO convince
him he was wrong in taking the meas
ures he regarded necessary to keep
ing the production of coal in the New
Mexico mines going on normal basis,
and for preservation of life and prop
cry from violence. The Journal also
publishes Governor Larra2olo's reply
to Mr.. Hannett,
Let us keep the record straight.
When the strike was called by the
United Mine Workers of America,
President Wilson denounced it as in
excusable and by his direction Attor-
ney General Palmer applied TO Fed
eral Judge Anderson at Indianapolis
for an injunction prohibiting the
strike, also prohibiting union men
everywhere from paying strike bene-
fits or otherwise contributing in any
way TO It's support. But on application
Of the government at Washington,
Judge Anderson took new step, we
believe, in strike history. He ordered
the general officers of the United
Mine Workers of America 10 order the
miners back to work. Had they not
compiled, fine and imprisonment for
contempt and prosecution for conspir-
acy would have followed.
Acting entirely in harmony with
President Wilson, the department or
Justice and the department of war
Governor Larrazolo called for troops
TO preserve order in the mine fields of
New Mexico. and the administration
at Washington responded promptly.
Martial law was declared.
Governor Larrazolo did not go as
far as the federal authorities went.
He did not presume to demand that
any man should work against the
workers will. He took the position
that no man who wanted to work
should be subjected to intimidation
and that no man or set of men should
be allowed to actively advocate the
tying up of the mine production in
defiance of the order of the federal
court.
Mr.. Hannett does not contend that
Governor Iarrazolo did not have
power to restore order. once violence
had occurred, but insists that in the
absence of violence the governor
should have taken no action.
It is an old saying that an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
without waiting for riodng, when
might have involved the loss of NE
and the destruction of property, Gov
ernor I.arrazolo took charge of the
situation and there was no loss of life
or destruction of properly. Also there
was no continued shortage of coal III
New Mexico. The railroads were kept
runnjng which wouldn't have been the
case had the strike been permitted 10
stop production.
Governor Iarrazolo did no more FOR
the preservation of order than was
done recently by the governor of MIN
nesota for the preservation of order at
international Falls. over the protest
of the mayor and even of the pro-
tests of the district judge and district
attorney. elected because they were
known to be sympathizers with Ger
min element, the governor sent the
state troops there to preserve order
and prevent violence. No violence was
offered. None has occurred.
Over the protest Of Governor Az
reid. Grover Cleveland sent General
Miles to Chicago to restore order
when Eugene Debs was raising several
different varieties of hades. Had All
geld acted with the promptness that
characterized I,arrazolo, many lVes
would have been saved and millions OF
dollars worth of property would not
have gone up in smoke.
The interests of the whole people
are paramount. and it is the sworn
duty of the executive power of CITY,
state or nation to protect them TO the
fun extent of such power,
Who says such duty does not exist
Also. who says that Governor LARA
zolo's action worked hardship upon
any law-abiding citizen? Who was in
jured by him?
We pause for an answer