Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1923-02-09
THE ARKANSAS MOB

There are several extraordinary
features connected with the Arkan.
sas mob that should interest every
citizen who puts his trust in govern.
ment by law.
The Missouri G. North Arkansas
railroad is an interstate line. II
comes under Judge Wilkersons in.
junction, which was issued at the re-
quest of the attorney general to "stor
lawlessness." Now, it is stated, sew
eral bridges were burned and this
started the mob.
Where was the attorney general
when the first bridge was burned?
To enforce the courts injunction
the attorney general has the power
to stand deputy marshals shoulder to
shoulder on both sides of that railroad
from end to end. The regular arm,
, can also be called upon, as well al
the aircraft service to fly over these
bridges and with powerful search
lights at night make the destruction
of property impossible.
Why were not these things done ?
Why was not the supremacy Of law
maintained :? Or did information
reach the department of justice that
few bridge burnings could be used
tod incite the populace and thereby
aid the railroads anti1unionlism, O
theory the attorney general i. pub
licly committed to?
TIL eattitude of the president of the
United States is also noticeable. In
special message to congress, last
August, he deplored "the federaI
impotence to deal with the shockihp
crime at Herrin, ILL.," and correctly
condemned those "'who believe moi
warfare is admissible to cure any
situation"
The president has failed to express
any sentiment on the Arkansas mob
though workers have appealed TO hin
to protect their lives.
In the Herrin case, it must be re.
membered, the federal government
has no jurisdiction, as this is purel,
state case. In the Arkansas case
the federal government is interested
because of the Wilkerson injunction
The same silence is maintained b,
anti-union employers association.
and by a large section of the daily
press that outdid itself pleading fol
law and order, following the Herrr
mob.
The Herrin mob was the result Of
the killing of three unarmed miner.
by private army of strikebreakers
armed with high-power rifles anc
machine guns and who assumed con.
troll of public highways.
While every element in this case
generated the mob spirit, no mob car
be defended if we are to maintain
faith in law and orderly processes
rather than in primitive instinct
While labor opposes mobs it also op-
poses the mob spirit generated by big
business to railroad" workers to the
penitsntiary.
In the Arkansas case the usual
mob frenzy was lacking. The mob
acted cody and with calculation. 1t
Is charged that the railroad placed a
special train at the disposal of the
mob, as well it might, for the mob's
purpose was to smash a railroad
strike, even though it smashed gov
eminent to accomplish its purpose.
One striker was hung, others fiogged
and bull-penned, and many strikers
and sympathizers driven from their
homes.
The governor of the great state of
Arkansas remained mute while the
powers of government were usurped
by mob that takes human life and
distributed white ribbons to those
strikers who were permitted to stay
at their homes and not be forced to
leave the country.
The president of the United States.
who a few months ago denounced an
Illinois mob that wreaked an unlaw.