Evening star., 1922-06-23
American "Frightfulness."

During the war much was heard of
German .frightfulness" in prosecu-
ton of the kaiser's campaign for the
conquest of France. Atrocities were
committed upon innOcents. prisoners
We're shot after surrender, property
was destroyed and every known rule
Of warfare was violated. The Ameri-
can people were aghast at such abom-
nations and strongly denounced them.
We're. in fact, moved to enter the con-
test on their account without specific
offense against this nation. When
finally the United States did become
a combatant its troops were fired with
feeling of determination TO punish
the offenders for their cruelties.
Now we are having "frightfulness'
Of our own in Illinois. Union miners
on strike have attacked a body Of nom
union workers without provocation
other than their production of coal,
have shot them down in the workings
and later, upon their surrender, have
beaten and shot them to death with
fiendishness unsurpassed by the worst
conduct of German troops in the war.
For such an outrage there is no
possible excuse. The men who We're
attacked We're within their rights as
workers. The men who attacked them
became lawbreakers the moment they
sought to prevent their working. Ac-
cording 10 statements of members Of
the mob they organized by spontane
Gus intent. apparently without lead
ers There was no discipline. They
broke into arms stores and looted
them for guns and ammunition. Five
thousand. it is estimated, swarmed
upon the mine, an open pit, and start
ed the attack.
There can be but one answer to this
proceeding, and it should be swiftly
summoned and order should be re-
stored. All those who were in the at
tack should. upon Identification, be
charged with murder and tried. The
state of Illinois should act, and if it
cannot summon sufficient force the
United States should be asked to in
tervene.
For this is revolution, none the less
serious because on a small scale. This
IS a violation Of all the guarantees Of
liberty, none the less serious because
committed by an unled mob. 1t can
not be tolerated lest it spread.
Horrible as it is, this outbreak in
Illinois has its encouraging signifi-
canoe. It indicates that the protracted
strike. which while not vet seriously
menacing public welfare yet Is potent
of heavy losses and widespread suffer
ing, is coming now into the stage OF
collapse. For it has been the unvary-
ing history Of these contests that
stability and the beginning of the end.
Labor leaders are prompt in their
denunciation of these murders in H.
linois. Investigation" is\ Immediately
assured by the heads Of the miners
union. But in the public mind there
will be no disposition to relieve those
leaders Of responsibility for this out
break, which is the logical outcome Of
the strike which they promoted. There
is no ground to excuse the members
of the striking organization on the
score that the outrages were COM
mitted by outsiders or sympathizers.
While in the mob may have been
some who were attracted by the excite
mani or the chance Of loot there ia
evidence that the main body was COM
posed Of union miners. determined to
stop the production Of coal. If the
United Mine Workers Union cannot
control its members it has to bear in
this matter the responsibility for lead
ing them into a position where such
passions and crimes result.