The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-01-14
FARMING OUT THE MILITIA.

that the state militia stationed there
since the beginning Of the strike Of
the packing employees is annoying and
harrasing the workers and indepen-
dent business men to such an extent
that. it is becoming nuisance. There
are no reports Of violence or other
forms Of law,breaking having been
committed. The militia men are over
officious and they seem to be doing
their utmost as such to assist in break
ing the strike.
That is not the function Of the mi
Etia now serving as state police at
South st. Paul. Such conduct at this
time and in the past during industrial
troubles has brought all the odium
on state militias from which they suf-
fer. 1t is because Of such thousands
OF young men. refuse to have anything
to do with state; soldieries. They Of
the workers. families do not want to
be characterized as strikebreakers or
herdcrs Of such: They prefer to live
iii peace and quie: with their working
neighbors.
The. opposi tion> Of union labor to-
tank corps and motor companies has
grown out of the misuse Of troops
by governors and commanding Off
GERS, through which they have practi.
caliy been loaned to privat.: concerns
having troubl, with their employees to
assist them to defeat the lawful pur-
pose Of the workers. This has been
done under one pretense or another of
unfolding the majesty Of the law, but
the object has; been SO patent that,
the simplest mind could readily per-
ceive the purpose.
No violence brought state troops to
South st. Paul. It was made plain to
the governor that their presence was
necessary to break the picket line set
up by the strikers, $50 that regular
employees could 90 to and, from their
work in the packing plants with COM
"a fort.' They should not have been
sent there at all for any purpose at
least not until the civil authorities
found that they WERE not able to han
die. the. situation. Nothing occurred
Or was threatened to indicate. that the
sheriff and the chief Of police were
i unable to preserve the peace.
~ The militia has been at the stock
I yards for several weeks. The work
for:the boys has been getting monot-
onons doing pure picket duty and 9th
serwise breaking the strike. So, &C.
co1ding to.news reports, they have i'm
posed military rule. in the streets, have
interfered with business, have been an
embarrassment and terror. to peace
full citizens who have nothing to do
with the strike. They have extended
their operations outside Of South St.
Paul into the city Of st. Paul, are ar.
resting men there and are hustling
them off. to military headquarters to
browbcat them and brighten them out
Of their resistance, to their late en-
ployers.
It will be seen that the people Of
this state, through their officials, are
actively cooperating in the effort of
tho most powerful interests in Amer
ica to starve their employees into sub
mission. It is not only their submis-
sion to wages, but their surrender Of
independence and all that free work
crs hold near and dear.
The workers Of Minnesota win not
permit such misuse Of authority by the
governor and his militia officers to
escape their, notice at the next cleo
4 ton. Every candidate for tho lcgis-
,lature will be asked before election
where he stands on this question of
farming out state troops to assist en-
ployers Of labor to break strikes, and
whether or not he believes in broad
ening the powers of the officials in
such matters. That will be one Of the
issues in the campaign that Governor
4 Preus will be forced to meet and ex-
\ plain.