OCR Text |
Show TO ANY EIOTOUS STRIKERS. It i? undoubtedly the right of any man or set of men to quit work, or re-fue re-fue to work, if he so determines. This riuht of the individual personally, exists ex-ists also in individuals in mass. 15m-plovecs 15m-plovecs can quit their work, as in tho case of -the smelter strike at Murray, if thev so desire, either becauso of a Grievance or without anv grievance That i the liberty secured to each and every individual bv tho law. Under the law. no one can be held in servitude. servi-tude. The right to labor or not to labor la-bor inheres in tho individual, and this right is fully protected in our free institutions in-stitutions under tho law. But thoan who exercise this right under the law, must bo lawabiding. It will not do for them to destroy property, prop-erty, indulge in rioting, or in assault ciher murderous or 'otherwise, upon individuals. Those who claim and on-forco on-forco their lawful right not to work, must not interfere with the rights of others who want to work, for tho right to work pcaccabh aud unmolested is as fullv assured in the law as the right not to work. Consequent ly. thoeo strikers in Mur-ray Mur-ray who have indulged in rioting and in cxhibitiojia o"f force or in efforts to destroy property by throwing dynamite dyna-mite sticks or otherwise, arc under tho condemnation of the law in 30 doing. They naturally, properly, and iuovL-tablv iuovL-tablv appeal to the protection of the law acainst any one who would harm them or who -would punish them for unitting work. The law, therefore, is thir protection. It is ncccssarv that tl'v r'-ognie this, and admit it also for others a ri as for thenchcs. Therefore, iolenrc of anv kind, and especially a violoneo that would load to wounds or murder or the destruction destruc-tion of propert", must bo refrained from, and thoeo who indulgo in theso forms ot cjcimo must be held strictly to account under tho law. All these propositions arc elemental and commonplace; and yot a good manv seem to forget thorn or to loso sight of their forco and effect in times of excitement. We cito them in order that tho strikers in Murray may understand un-derstand that they are under tho protection pro-tection of the law in tho enjoyment and enforcement of their rights, and aro aliko under tho condemnation of tho law when they interfere with the rights and liberties of others, or molest mo-lest them in their individual security, and in the peaceful possession and operation op-eration of their property. There is no sentiment here that will justify assassination as-sassination and pillage, aud tho strikers strik-ers at Murray who may bo inclined to forgot this arc likely ro Tcccive a. very drastic and forcible reminder of it if thoy pursue a riotous course. |