Evening star., 1922-07-10
Coroner's Verdict at Herrin Uni
yersally l. Condemned.

Universal condemnation has marked
tho receipt of the verdict Of the coro-
ners jury In the Herrin mine kill
ings. The effort on the part Of that
body to place sole responsibility on
the murdered nhne superintendent
generally is denounced and editors
call upon the federal government to
initiate q complete investigation and
to set In motion the machinery ade-
quatsiy to punish those responsible.
''Ths verdict" says the Boston
Traveller. fs an amszing specimen Of
what men sometimes do when their
faculties are controlled by emotions
rather than a desire for justice. State
and federal pressure should be
brought to bear upon the self-ipdioted
county until justice has been en-.
there In place Of Of. for
the conditions which preceded the
riot may lie at the door of the mine
owners. the Newark News points out
that, after the mine had been stormed
and the prisoners taken. "given or
epa conduct. Williamson % County, domi-
mated by the union, not only to the
suppression Of law, but Of the laws
officers, requires to be converted to
the assured control of laws admin
istered by men who wear no shackls
duty" The jury decision also con-
been concealed. the Milwaukee, senti-
mel contends, because, "if the jury's
verdict represents, as the coroner
says. the united sentiment Of Will
Hanson county. it should be supple,
elicit all the facts"
The findings must not be allowed to
end this matter. the Kansas City Jour-
nal insists. a. the murders cannot be
They can never be closed until the doors
Of penitentiaries or death chambers
close upon those who savagely slew in
nocent men working to earn an honest
living pursuant to rights abundantly
guaranteed. but apparently without ef-
Of the land The union leaders, the
Chicago Tribune 10 convinced. are try
in4 to dodge blame by accusing profit
GERS Of creating q condition which
brought about the murders, insisting
sueh M Msttempts are absurd aoda and -. Ssa
sponsibility for the massacre can be
successful. II war profits were justi-
foation for mastering the victims OF
Hsrrin. the noble privilege Of massa-
cring belonged to the public, not to the
tutes "a challenge TO governmsnt." the
New York World points out, and more
important than any settlement OF the
coal strike sis the vindication Of public
order and the discontinue Of private
vengeance that w0uld substitute the
rihe and the torch for the scales ana
staH Of Justice" =
'"The shame and the menace are not
alone to Illinois, not alone to the ma
tion." the Omaha World-Herald points
out, but to. the whole OF enlightened
citizens. however selhslly they may be
- individuals, should need to look only
to southern Illinois to come wide awake
and to deep sense Of shame. In
dorsenent of q complete, impartial IN
vestigation also comes from the INDIAN
the idea that such q tragedy should
occur in such q community without any
one knowing who was responsible for
the actual killing Of the mon whose
bodies we're scattered over the surround
ing country is inconceivable." But,
points out, the return made by the jury
"is chiefly valuable as q redection OF
public opinion In the vicinity concefn-
ing the conduct Of the mine' since 1t
was reopened for operation Dy strfke-
Tho New York Times is inclined to
feel that, with the return OF the de-
ctsion Of the ceroner's jury, the mss
sacre is q CLOSED incident. The little
state Of Williamson county IL secure
in its supralegaI pre-eminence. For
q while, perhaps, there will be more
than the usual talk about respecttng
the law, but tho mass Of the psoRie
will continue to be apathettc. TA6
politicians will continue to be COW
ardly. We shalt continue to lick our
chops with self-satisfactfon At the
form Of our goverpment and pay scan
ty heed to the ugly facts that 20 often
contradict 1t and are locally superior
sympathies, the Cleveland Plain
Dealer insists that national. state
and local authoYitieS shall take i'm.
mediate adequate steps 70 see thef
every 0ut1ty mA4 or woman - pun
ished N manner 10 At the crime.4Thls