The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-06-29
THE HERRIN MASSACRE FORCES
A VITAL ISSUE.

AFTER ItduluB the uOIilDie ana
gruesome details OF the murder and
torture of non-union men by a mol
composed of members OF the union at
Herrin. on American soil and within
the sovereign state of Illinois, we are
disposed to have more respect for the
Turk. who has heretofore been cred
tied with the limit Of cruel barbarity.
and for the merciless and bloodthir-
sty Slav of soviet Russia The first
at least has the excuse of centuries
of inbred religious fanaticism and in
tolerance the second ages of poverty
and crushing political oppression, and
both are enmeshed in ignorance that
knows no means of redress save that
obtained through cruel and beastly
force But there is no excuse to JUS
tify the Herrin horror and the claim
by union officials that the mining
company was responsible for the
massacre because it imported strike
breakers" to operate the mine is too
absurd to receive serious considera-
ton. As well go back step further
and say that the union was to blame
in calling the strike. for otherwise no
strike breakers would have been i'm
ported. The fact is, the union had
right to strike and the coal operators |
had right to bring in men to take
their places, and they also had right |
to employ guards to prevent the strik.
ers from interfering with their oper-
ations. Opinion may differ as to the
wisdom of the union in striking and
that of the operators in importing
men, but there can be no question as
to the right of each to take such ac-
ton under the law nor can there be
any justification for the cruel and in
human murder of the men after they ,
had surrendered and were being es-
corted from the mine. That is a blot
SO black that unionism can never free i
itself from it, and the same will ap-
ply to the state of Illinois if it fails
10 run down and punish to the extent .
Of the law the men who perpetratcd n
his cowardly massacre.
This awful crime in Illinois which ~
ehAalfaR
y to the front the real issue which u
he law-respecting people of the C.
.ountry must face and fight to a fin e.
sh. That issue involves the essential II
principle upon which our government c
s founded, the inalienable right of H.
very citizen to life liberty and the u,
pursuit of happiness" The violation in
+ this right by the union at Herrin ia
vas nothing new, the only difference in
eing the violence in the manner in cr
'hich it was carried out The al
trength Of unionism today rests up idi
n its persistent violation OF that in
Ight through boycotts, intimidation at
nd coercion. Weak -kneed employ
RS, unassertive public sentiment and re-
pandering to the labor vote IN
ave submitted to and even encour- r..
ged this un-American system until de
nionism presumes to exercise right p,
lperior to that accorded to citizens m,
Inside its membership. The newt fig
Die sequel to this system is now an
resented in the cruel murders at as
erin. at,
1t is not enough to mete out punish tic
ent for this appalling crime The ella
ople throughout the nation should tn,
Sc up in their might and demand Or,
at every citizen shall be made Sc lCl;
re in his right to work for whom he we
eases and upon any terms satisfac- an
ry TO himself individually. absolute ter
free from dictation or Interference Of
any man or organization. and that POI
lployers be protected in the same ter
solute freedom. This will not IN pre-
'fere with the legitimate purposes led
labor unions. but il will bring them the
thin the pale of the law and exact var
I'm them respect for its provisions lool
ere can never be permanent indus fac
al peace in our country so long as was
2 unions are permitted to ignore llno
d openly violate this basic princi- will
OF our government his