Evening star., 1923-01-24
EDITORIAL DIGEST

"originated in private property in
transportation. This has led to a
civil war between ignorant farmers
and union workers. 1t has provided
courts, police and executive power.
Anarchy. In the worst sense of this
word, reigned supreme"
Inasmuch as this time a "citizens
committee" resorted to mob rule. the
Durham Sun sees in the affair a grow
ing tendency to the overthrow of
law and order on all sides. Heretofore
for the most part. I'm the interest of
labor. Here Is an example of labor
suffering the effects of crime because
1t exercised its right to strike. II is
a graphic illustration Of the fact that
abuse of rights on either side Will
produce conflict in which law and
the rights of men as free agents will
be the last thing considered" It is
the opinion of the Boston Transcript,
however, that while there will be in
dignation. there will be no surprise"
that this happened. The Arkansas
strike was a strike against the pub
lie safety. The sabotage that fol-
lowed it signified concerted effort to
OF the suffering caused the farmers Of
the community directly affected.
These farmers have finally come to
the conclusion that those guilty of
sabotage against the railroad are pub
lie enemies. Their final resort to vio-
lence only goes to prove that gov
eminent Is protection and that where
protection ceases government ends"
Somewhat similar Is the argument of
the Kansas City Journal. which feels
that the inevitable happened in this
instance. as in many others. One eIe-
ment went outside the law to gain its
own ends; another followed in re-
taliation and with the determination
to put an end to the destruction OF
property and the interruption of bust
ness. One extreme begot another
Vigorous and impartial enforcement
Of the law. the protection of the
rights of all concerned. would in all
probability have prevented the de-
the retaliation which has resulted in
mob violence. 1t is idle to base any
solution Of this or any other problem
on situation in which property is
destroyed with impunity to gain no
matter how just and desirable ends"
The methods of the mob were 'in-
finitely worse than the evils they de-
sired to exterminate." the Asheville
Times holds. and "the Harrison vigil
lantes made martyrs of the very men
aroused sympathy for those they at
tempted to condemn. OF course, there
In nothing unusual about this. 1t Is
the invariable denouement of stories
Of mob Violence. Demanding how
the Savannah Press likewise inquiries,
What is to happen when any number
Of people form themselves into
mob? Here is an uprising of the peo-
pie absolutely unauthorized by the
court and abhorrent to principles of
justice and fair play. The governor
ordered out his troops too late and
withdrew them too soon. When is
this thing to stop? And what a
dangerous precedent such a mur-
derous aggregation establishesw The
peril from private law enforcement"
increases. the indianapolis News is
convinced. as reports OF various out
RACES drift In from every section of
the country. showing the disease is
spreading rapidly. It Is time that
people were awakening to the peril,
for II is real and serious. 1t threat
ems the very existence Of our insti-
tutions. There Is a moral in it all
for courts. juries and peace officers
While their derelictions cannot ex-
cuse mob law. they at least furnish a.
pretext for it."