The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-10
PxRxDIsE FOR CoAL MINERS.
How the Coal Corporations Miaht Easily
Heneni their Miners and The mseIVes.


BeneHt their Miners and Themselves.
Nom me address, Of M. Abram S. Becit, President
q(he american Institute or N,ninG engineers.
To insure continuous operations, the
best relations must exist between the corporate
owners and the laborcrs in their employ. II Is
notorious that throughout the coal regions
these relations have been Of the most unsaiis-
factory character, resulting, at Often-recurrinR
Intervals. In strikes and lock outs. which have
no redeeming feature, but, on the contrary,
have impared t The dividends OF the s owners, and
have reduced the workinRmen and their fani-
lies to condition OF suffering and demoralza-
tlon, appalling to every well-wisher of his race.
II IL fortunate, therefore, that the Interests of
all classes concur In the prevention OF these
, uhes,rnctive ana aemoraLnng c9ls, IONS anu
self protection will be driven to remove the
causes which have produced them. IL is idle for
cbinery, for the highest skin, for the most eco
nomical transportation, unless they can, at the
same time, insure "A continuous production from
a contented laboring population.
This they have II In their power 20 do. II the
came spirit of sacrifice which has sent out oar
missionaries Into every heather land had been
shown In the coal regions N the hospital for the
sick. and the comfortable refuge for the unfor-
tunate had been carefully provided II reading
rooms and night-schooa. and rational places OF
amusement had. from the outset, been main
tained for growing and restless population the
coal regions to-day might have been IA paradise
upon earth instead Of disgrace To civilization.
Aud here II II that the now power of ooncen-
trated management can exert itself with sure
and absolute success. The appropriation OF
lew cents per ton ON the coal mined to the work
Of Improving the moral aud intellectual condi-
tions Of the miners and their families will, In a
time Incredibly short. change the whole lace Of
society In the coal regions.
10 DE effective however, this consecration OF
u fixed amount on each ton Of coal sent to mar
ket must be as absolute aud hnal as that portion
Of the proceeds which IL devoted to pumping
the mines or driving the gangways IL must
not come from grace but from sense OF duty
involved In the ownership Of property and die
tated by a wise regard for Its preservation and
permanent value. Even " this percentage were
added to the price Of the coal the addition
would not he grudRed by the public but in
fact, no such addition could possibly occur as
there u no surer way OF promoting economy In
the cost of production than by improving the
social condition the self respect and the Intel
ligence of those who are engaged in the work
OF production, which thus becomes continuous
and systematic. Until the great companies thus
recognize the duties, the responsibilities, and
the opportunities for good, which are offered
has rendered their existence necessity as
well AS a possibility, they must not complain
that they are regarded with disirusi, and as enc
products, and 10y the working ciasses who see In
them only grasping employers without a CON
science. What individual owners could not do,
IL Is easy for these great companies to put In
practice; but the effort must he as earnest and
serious a. Is the business OF producing coal and
getting II to market. The very best talent must
be secured for the organization aud management
Of the various agencies necessary Tor the moral,
intellectual, aud social improvement Of the
working classes, who must lie themselves asso-
ciated In the administration Of the fund created
ton would produce an annual revenue oi
over sl,DU,0VO applicable to this neces-
ssry ,p sa np snd oonscenti"us ad9instra
ton would convert what in some regions has
been aptly termed hell upon earth intoa
terrestrial paradise which would be the pride
and the glory Of the new world.
What more hitting celebration Of the Centen-
p"ssi6iy suggested or devised. or how could the
advent OF the incoming century be better signal
lied. than by the foundation ON the part of the
anthracite
partment In their administration for the moral.
mental, social and physical improNement of the
wurkinelnen and their families, and 10y the APP
priaton OF fixed charge ON coal for this purpose.
The example thus set will soon extend itself to
other industries and to every branch of bust
ness which eau adapt the corporate principle Of
the concentration Of management through DIFF
fusion Of ownership, the result Of which will be
that the strange phenomenon, now felt through
out the civilized world, OF a general glut OF
products In the face Of general want OF them,
will never again be witnessed; because when
the working classes shall have constant employ
ment and adequate compensation the sure re-
suits ~ general enlightenment and a cultivated
conscience in the use Of property the power ~
cOusumption, now so far In arrear. Will surely
overtake the power OF production and reestab-
lish the equation which nature intended
To subsist between them Thus may be
realized that Christian commonwealth which
has been the dream Of the patriot. the phlan-
thropist and the statesman, In all ages. in which
every man who Ia willing to work shall md EN-
ploymcnt, and In which the products Of indus
try will be so distributed that every man shall
feel that he has received his fair share OF them;
In which there will be neither abject and hope
leas poverty on the one hand nor supertiuOus
riches on the other, because the problem of how
t. distribute capital through the concentration
OF management viii have been fully solved and
be thoroughly comprehended 10y all classeS In
the community; In which the quaint questions
put 10y Sir Thomas Moore. three hundred and
sixty years ago. will AT length have been nswer-
ed, and his suggestive commentary thereon have
lost It's significance
us not that government both unjust and I'M
grateful, that il so prodical Of its favors to
those that are called gentlemen or gold
smiths or such Others who are idle, or live either
by hattery, or 10y continuing the arts Of vain
pleasure and ON the other hand takes no care
of those OF meaner sort such as ploughmen,
colliers and smiths, without whom II could not
. HIT after the public has reaped all tho adj
vantages of their service, and they come TO be
oppressed with age, sickness and want all their
lahors and the good they have done Is forgot
ten, and all the recompense given them Is, that
they are left to die in great misery The richer
sort are often endeavorlng TO bring the hire Of
lsborers lower not only BY their fraudulent prac-
tees, but by the laws which they procure To be
made to this effect, so that though IL Is a thing
most unjust IN Itself TO give such small rewards
they have given those hardships the name aud
color OF Justice; by procuring laws to he made
Although quote from the Utopia, let Il not
he supposed that there Is anything Utopan or
impracticahle IN the proposition which l have
advanced, Ii seems TO ME 10 be the next great
step to he taken for the smelioration of the CON
dillon Of mankind. The law OF diffusion which
thus far has governed the progress Of the human
zation, has at length made an effective lodg-
mcnt In the domain OF capital whereby IL Ia
rendered capable OF infinite division without
impairing but in effect improving the economy
and force Of Its administration. The reproach
that corporations have no souls" must and
Will, next be removed so soon AS the beneacent
possibilities Inherent In these agencies shall be
generally recognized, and thos. who are called
To the management shall sec that because
capital Is aggregated, the primary law on which
all property rests, that IL Is trust to be adj
unlisted for the public good, loses none of ia
force, but can, in reality only itself In all
It's Nigor when concentrated management Ia
brought % bear upon great aggregations OF
capital. Nan did not become living soul"
until God breathed into him the breath of life
80 corporations are mere machines until they
are Inspired by the associated conscience OF
society, To which they can give ready and
effective expression, and look for this express
sion nrst from the great coal companies, bo-
cause their property and their peculiar organ
iHhtiOns make II easy well as profitable for
them 70 put I'm practice the fundamental idea
mat liked portion OF the proceeds OF industry
should lie invariably devoted to the social i'm
prnvcmcnt Of those who labor directly for its
development.
II the seed here dropped should take root AS
pray and believe II Will, then indeed will the
country and the world have reason To re loicc al
the industrial de- elopment Of the last hundred
year,, and the celebration of this Centennial DO
the dawn of ahetter day for the patient sons OF
toll who, lot II be confessed, with all frankness
and humility have not yet been endowed with
their fair share OF the good things Of this goodly
earth.