The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-11
Fair Enough
BY wEsTBRooK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916 BY King Features Syndicate

Copyright, 1916 By King Features syndicate)
NEW YORK. Jan. 10. - The issue in the
demonstration strike of both A. F. of L. and
CLIO unions in Stamford, Conn.,, was law or
anarchy.
During strike of eight weeks, machinists
demanded a closed shop and pickets illegally
blockaded the doors to the Yale and Towne
factory Governor Raymond M. Baldwin then
sent a detail Of state police to clear the way
for citizens on lawful errands to enter the
plant. Charles E. Moore, the mayor, with
plenty of police at his command, had refused
to employ them for this purpose although they
could have preserved the peace against dis
orders committed and threatened by the un-
ion.
The union executives, including some from
other cities. had power to prevent disorder
by instructing their pickets to obey the laws
against rioting, assault and disorderly con-
duct. These are offenses clearly defined by
laws which almost all citizens willingly obey
at all times. This, the union executives refus-
ed to do and the mayor placed himself on the
side OF rebellion against government
No labor issue was involved here. The labor
issues had reeeded into the distance and were
matters for negotiation The question of mob
acton was not negotiable.
The issue was now solely whether the mayor
protect the legal rights of those who wanted
to enter the plant. These citizens were threat
ened with injury or death by blockade Of
organized thugs. A number of communists had
been busy in the background.
Some Of the workers, after eight payless
pay-days and bleak holiday season, were
sick Of the strike and wanted their jobs back.
These faceless figures in the strife were re-
quired, however, to report on time and stand
o%ooor xeia lva
warning that if they refused to picket they
might be expelled for "un-unionlike conduct"
And, if they insisted on their right to 60 to
their jobs they might be sugged with iron
bars or steel chains or clubs and paralyzed
or killed.
Thus normally law abiding workers were
compelled to become riotous force and po-
tential killers by orders Of an irresponsible
authority claiming to represent them as volun-
tary members but with the admission that if
they weren't coerced by the company they
might not remain or become, members.
The mayor repeatedly had said that the
company was trying to compel him to use
the police to break the skulls of the rioters.
In actual fact, his duty was to use the police
to prevent the rioters from breaking the skulls
of law-abiding citizens and this he refused to
do The men who wanted to enter the plant
were threatening no person. The threats came
only from the picket line. It was to protect
the citizens in their persons and their rights
that Governor Baldwin, belatedly, sent state
police to Stamford, superseding Mayor
Moore's local police, to clear path and keep
order. The state police arrested few pickets
Order was restored. The law was made clear.
And the mass demonstration was called as a
protest against the law. This was arranged
by the executive power OF the union bosses
and intimidation was present in the action of
many who Joined the rally.
Small merchants of Stamford, not interested
in the issues, but with stake in the mainten-
ance Of peace, were given their first real ex-
perience of the brown shirt or Ku Klux terror.
They were asked to display p1acards in their
windows sympathizng with the riotous force.
II they refused they would be black-listed
and union members would be forbidden to
trade with them, under threat Of punishment
for 'un-unionlike conduct" if they complied
they were inviting similar disorders at their
own doors later and condoning organized thug
gerry as a method of adjusting disputes.
This was only one Of many such episodes Of
the same time, at Kearny, N. j., there was
no pretense that the picketing Of the electrical
workers was intended to be peaceful The pic
kets went to the lines armed with clubs, OF
uniform size. Sedentary, elderly citizens who
tried to 60 to their desks, under no suspicion
of wanting to take over the abandoned jobs
Of the rioters were knocked to the pavement
and beaten up.
There is no legal right to riot, even for
pickets. The right to picket is right only to
address the public by speech or publication
such as pamphlet or placard. Under the
Roosevelt government however, the unioneers
were encouraged to terrorze neighborhoods
and cities. Local officials, such as Mayor
Moore. Of Stamford, illegally permitted them
| to dc so.
Strictly speaking, even strike breakers have
| a right to go to all such vacated jobs unfno-
Tested. Mayor Moore's oath requires him to
protect even them. The right to strike Is only
right to quit work. 1t is not right TO pre-
vent someone else from doing that work.
Most city ordinances forbid all persons to
block or obstruct any public place or any ap-
proach to any place Of business with intent
to interfere with the free passage OF any per
son bound on lawful business. The Stamford
ordinance so provides and so the mass de-
monstration in Stamford was protes! organ
lied against law and government and In favor
of rioting. assault and anarchy