The Washington herald., 1921-09-03
West Virginia.

III L lS horrible condition when Americans shoot
Americans. 1t is but empty vaporng to talk
of world peace, peace between nations, when
civil war is permitted to in one of our own
States. Yet there is nothing less than civil war in
West Virginia. What has occurred there is armed
revolution, defiance of law, of constituted govern
ment and attempt to seize authority by force.
Naturally the first thing that must be done is to
stop that and to reassert the supremacy of the law
and the authority of government.
But what then? 1t is useless to undertake now
to fix the initial blame responsibility as between
mine owners operators, and the miners, between
union and nonunon antiunion contenders, or be-
tween groups OF individuals 1t is true, however,
in all like instances, where armed force results
from economic disputes, that no such situation ever
should result, or will result if the governing
authorities accept and fulfil their responsibilities.
There is always weakness where there should
be strength; shrinking where there should be
age indecsion where there should be decision. and
lack OF judgment based justice. where there
should be prompt determination based upon the
square deal If force is needed. it should not wait
upon murder to uphold authority. The eliminating
fault rests neither with capital labor, in union
nonunon, but in the constituted governing authority
superior to either. or both. all
West Virginia State must bear the respon-
siblity for the inability to handle its affairs.
and for permitting internal economic condition
to get out of its control. One thing which per-
mitted is basic fault in practically all States. The
owners of the mines not only allowed, but
were compelled to hire and pay for the defense of
their properties. They forced to employ what
labor calls gunmen to prevent destruction OF their
property and the lives OF their employees.
This is more the province of the owners Of
mines than OF homes. 1t is one of the primary OBJ
legations of government to protect all property
within its jurisdiction Every State should have
its police force just has every city, and for the
same purposes and uses. These men should be
sponsibc to the State, not to the owners of prop
erty. They should get their orders from the State
not from private individuals They should have
back of them the authority OF the State and not
that of the enemies" OF those who defy the law
Not even States militia should be called upon to
do police duty and it certainly is a disgrace when
any State shows such incompetcncy as to have to
situation it has let get beyond its own control.
Organized labor has declared everywhere
against international wars 1t declares it will refuse
support 1t is the greatest of all interna-
tonal peace agencies. Capital has declared for in
ternational peace. 1t kccny feels the wastes of war;
Do they not both the grim, sardonic humor OF
this while permitting, fomenting what becomes
no less than civil war? In two months the Wash
ington conference will meet, but next door to the
bloody hills.
Order restored, all can and wait the re-
port of impartial Congressional investigators Then
and only then will the initial faults be publicly and
reliably known in detail. Only then be formu-
lated just, honest and what should be conclusive
decision, as to what next?"