El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-07
THE. DENVER STREET CAR STRIKE
AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC


COME years ago serious trouble in Colorado coal
- fields Trinidad For many months the disorder
continued There frequent rotng many persons were
killed and injured and much property loss resulted from
the disturbances Colorado had state administrs
ton State and county officers unable to control the
situation The national guard proved Ineffective The
trouble continued month after month"; and grew steadily
At last the state authorities asked for federal
troops
Lieut. Gen John C. Bates then department commander,
went person take command. small detachment Of
troops was ordered into the strike district. When Gen
Bates crossed the state line be met By reporters and
asked what his plan would be-
"a state Of rebellion exists IN Colorado said the gen
eral; at is my duty to put down rebellion"
That was the extent Of the interview but it enough
Gen Bates arrived the Of the long continued
resistance to law and defiance Of public order he met
the strike leaders and the coal operators few simple
rules Of action and nacton prescribed. Not shot
was fired nobody was run through with bayonet-
But the disorder ceased. The rebellion right
then and there. soft spoken determined man with the
whole United States behind him spoke Peace and there was
peace Not long afterward the strike settled and
Colorado returned to sanity.
Now It is Denver which has "a state Of rebellion" to
coma with Street car employees went on strike. But they
were satisfied with quitting work They undertook to
prevent the street company from running cars and
they and their sypaers did not hesitate to use violent
means to enforce their viii
Cars and attacked fire was set 70 street
company buildings, and when police sought TO restore
order the strikers and their sypathzers attacked me
police number Of persons, including police we're killed
mob sacked the office Of daily newspaper that had
ssapproved the strike and destroyed machines, furniture
and print paper Citizens who only wanted to be let alone
in safety were involved nthe melee and private property
was destroyed by the rioters
The street. car company not only had perfect right to
run its cars but It IN duty bound to do 50; ITS 1st
duty to the public is to furnish transportation faces
But because the strikers were numerous and reckless they
thought they had right to kin and burn and destroy as
The newspaper had perfect right to express its Opin
ions It was appealing public opinion. But the strikers
and their sypathizers evidently MORALLY afraid OF
public opinion they tried to stop the newspaper from
-T-s 45.n urF 2 rrffT and
men who wanted to work, but they were not willing to
accord freedom Of expression Of opinion to newspaper
After many hours Of rebellion" the city authorities
called volunteer guards to restore and maintain order
thousand Appeared, and they we're given arms ana
ammunition and organized after military fashion and given
Denver admits she cannot govern herself She is not
ashamed ask for federal troops It deemed unse
at this time to bring the national guard INTO action
Special police sposss comitatus VIII handle the stua
under the mayor and the chief of police But federal
troops have been called IN
It is unfortunate that the disturbance allowed to
far did It is unfortunate that the street car
company was given the necessary protection that it
could its without interruption from the be-
ginning Of the strike.
The strikers Of course forfeited any claim they might
have had friendly public sentiment They nay have
inst grievance OF they may not Certainly the public
s sga1s fbe and thew win have little chance to gain
sober and Judicial hearing they might properly have
claimed at first Their strike Is lost already. They raised
their hands IN violence against the entire public against
the city and the state Of Colorado and only one
duty then presented itself to the constituted author
tes. t0 put down repellon' by such use OF Iorce a
might be necessary and with the aid Of 1000 volunteer
CIVIC guards mostly ex-sodiers who have little fear Of
bricks OF bullets but very wholesome regard for the
stability Of or government
If community has the VIII to govern itself and protect
ITSELF there is always way. The number Of law abiding
psaceabe and government respecting men always IN the
majority. laBless minority may make lot Of trouble
for while but its shrt is short in q community that
respects itself and takes pride IN its good name The city
Of Galveston presents striking contrast Galveston had
VIII govern ITSELF consequently the governor Of
Texas had to take affairs his hands and send state
troops there He did precisely right and ths almost
unanimous approval Of Texans for the stand he took But
would not have been necessary if Galveston had met
the situation Denver did.
Communities sometimes fail TO Tiss to the need, and
sometimes the authorities too quick to confess defeat
and call state troops federal troops The local vou
teers can always restore order they have capable leader
ship Weakness IN the constituted authorities always
suits IN increased ouawTy and often in loss Of life
state Of rebellion needs to be taken in its npency and
handled with vgor the little fire becomes confagra
ton.
Last fan there was a serious strike IN Waukegau,
Illinois The sheriff asked for troops. Governor LOTden
adutant general to investigate To the sheriff the
adjutaut general said: he problem is for the c
zens Of Waukegan. The trouble is within their city limits
is their homes and property interests that at
stake"
Rioting continued and the sheriff deputized lot Of
CITIZENS to act with him to restore order. They
able to regain control The sheriff. mayor, police commits