Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-05
ONLY PARTLY RIGHT.

I'm PRESIDENT GOmperS attributes SuCn dlSturDanc-
SSses as shave existed in West Virginia to the presence
LOT detectives and other agents employed by corpora
xsytions. In this Mr.: Gompers is not entirely wrong,
ss!but he is only partly/right. Responsibility for law
saS2ess activities cannot be removed from lawless agi-
s@f1tators and those who heed their appeals by placing
cases where there have been labor troubles the la
s4ebor agitator has been present and his activities have
sSsbeen at the bottom of a large share of the disturb
asances. Great bodies of laborers, many Of whom
THE country and equally ignorant oftits customs,
sares easily lead by shrewd and skilled men who prey
upon their passions and their prejudices and seek to
ssiiconvince them that the whole world is arrayed
at work, and wherever they are found, re-
,sponsibility for whatever disorder follows must be
ajplaced largely upon them.
% Mr.. Gompers is right however in deploring the
employment Of armed men under the guise of legal
authority who are subject only to the direction Of
private individuals who are concerned chiefly with
THE protection of their own interests. This plan
sssShas been followed in the past by corporations which
sSWere large employers of labor, railroad companies,
admlnlng companies, and other concerns of similar
Scharacter until armed service under orders of such
aconcernsS has become the sole occupation Of a large
Number of adventures. These men go where they
hare sent. They are paid good wages. They have
ano interest whatever in any of the controversies,
saabut their sole object is to satisfy their employers
assthat they are earning their money so that they may
ssssstand in line for other desirable employment later
ION.
The individual has an undoubted right to pro-.
sgHtect his own property and to use whatever degree
SSSot force may be necessary to protect it from the as
Asault of lawless men. The corporation has an
ssaequal rightato protect its property. It may employ
awatchinen, guards, and these men are legally au--
to resist attack from any quarter; but
i where this sort Of agency is provided the employees
ct corporations engaged in the protection Of the
sEproperty Of the corporation and under its ~instruc-
irons ought not to have the authority of peace Of
fcers Of the state. The state is thereto protect the
Eproperty Of all persons whenever its protecting
ahand is necessary, but it should in no case transfer
Sany part Of this authority to any set of private in
as4diyiduals. Where the authority Of the state must
abe called in; the men by whom its orders are to be
sexecuted should not only be employees Of the state
but they should be at all times and under all cir
Heumstances directed and controlled by the officers
lot the state, and not by the owners of the property
ito be protected any more than by the mobs which
| level their attacks against that property.
The employment Of special agents and detec-
tlves armed with the authority of the state but d-
Erected by privately interested individuals invari-
\ ably causes resentment which would not be felt if
I the necessary physical force were employed by the
! state under the direction Of its own officers. The
Unemployment of such special agents is being more
! and more frowned upon and it IS to be hoped that
1 we have seen the end of it. Whenever the state is
not competent to direct the forces which it ought
to control It is time for that state to confess inn
! potence and to call upon the higher authority Of the
J federal government.