The Day Book

The real reason for this strike may be that the companies want to break the street railway union.

The same interests that control the street railways control the gas and electric companies, and the telephone company, too, and all of these are non-union.

If that were the real purpose of the stubborn attitude of the companies their game would, of course, be to try to manipulate the controversy so as to lead the public to believe all the stubbornness is on the part of the men; and then use the newspapers and the police force to whip the men into subjection.

The employment of detective agencies to supply armed guards with deputies badges is an old game. It is the game played in Colorado by the coal barons and in Calumet by the copper magnates; and these so-called detective agencies are often responsible themselves for the starting of violence, although the blame is laid on the strikers.

It is NOT Mayor Thompson's business to help Blair, Busby and Budd crush the street railway men's union, or to help the union crush Blair, Busby and Budd and the stockholders they represent.

The fair thing to do, the peaceful thing to do and the best thing to do under all the circumstances is for Mayor Thompson to use all the power he has to organize a transportation system outside of the warring factions and let the owners and employes of the street railways fight their battle out without the use of violence.

Even if the cars run by strikebreakers are manned by policemen, it means danger to life and limb of all who ride on the cars.

The use of strikebreakers provokes violence, and strikebreaking gunmen usually start violence in order to make it necessary for the companies to employ more of them.

There will be no violence toward autos or the steam roads.

There's war enough in Europe.

Don't start one here in Chicago.