The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-16
ARBITRATION OF STRIKES,
some Psrnnsnt Reflections on che Goa
Miners Contest.

some Pertinent Reflections ON the Coal
Miners Contest
The following article on the coz MN
ers strike is from the pen of Mr.. A. w.
Campbell, now travelling in the wesl,and
appears as an editorial in the Denver
Colorado, News OF Sunday last; What
ever may be the outcome OF the present
wide spread strike among tho coal min
ers OF the country, IL win be matter Of
valuable public record In their favor
that they have offered to submit the JUS
tice of their demands for better wages
TO a tribunal from which they ASK hoth-
ing but an impartial verdict. They pro-
pose that each lnterest-the employers
and the employed-haye equal repre-,
sentation on board OF arbitrator ana
that some such disinterested man OF
high character us Bishop Potter OF New
York state act as umpire by the exercise
OF the casting vote. The issue before this
tribunal Is to be their statement that
those who mine the coal OF the country
do not as a rule receive living wages,
and upon the truth OF this statement
they viii stake the justice of the present
movement for better pay.
This attitude OF the coal miners gives
them a strong position TO start with.
They are very large body OF men and
control most important industry and
deserve, as all men deserve who are will
ing TO work, such wages as Will enable
them to provide a decent living and
something more for their families
There may possibly come a time In
this strike before II ends that this con-
clllatory overture OF the miners VIII as
sumo much greater Importance than
now attaches to II. Thrice is he armed
who has his quarrel just" AS TO their
quarrel being Just the miners have no
doubt. They are therefore willing to
submit It to tribunal which shall make
public report TO the country and uphold
or condemn their present attitude.
Now here Is an opportunity to test the
value OF arbitration. There Is much
said about & as a remedy for deplorable
collisions between labor and capital. All
the civilized world is Invoking its aid In
order TO get rid OF violence and misery.
England and the United States lately
entered into a treaty to avoid war and
refer their differences to arbitration. All
civilized legislation tends In the same di-
rection. not only as regards national DIFF
ferences, but likewise domestic difficult
ties, such as this present issue between
the coal operators OF the country and
their miners.
What Is to be gained by alrefusal TO
meet the conciliatory action of the min
ers? VIII 1t pay to ignore their state
ment that they are working for atarva.
ton wages and 10 attempt their defeat
by long drawn out exhaustion? VIII It
pay to take the position that England
first took In tho Venezuela matter and
had to yield at last? VIII 1t pay to call
ont United States marshals and the mil
lila Of the states In order TO settle a DIFF
fculty that can be settled peaceably
through arbitration? Why must we
always go through the ordeal OF violence
In preference TO cultlvating unity bo-
tween labor and capital by the employ
ment OF such q fair and humane agency
as impartial arbitration Certainly, af-
ter 80 much regrettable experience, the
time is ripe for an experiment on a
grand scale as TO the efficacy of this
method Of settling u great labor trou-
bic.
The coal operators OF the United
States have nothing 10 lose by acceding
10 this peaceful overture. II they have
to pay more wages they will be entitled
to get more for their product. The gen.
erai public will realize this fact as they
always do In similar cases. The coun-
try would much rather pay n fraction
more per bushel for Its fuel than to get
Il at the old price II that price represents
simply 80 much wrongfully extorted
/ lst al l.,
Just between labor and capital, and
therefore II will not approve an attitude
of indifference on the part of the coal
operators 60 this peaceful proposition OF
the miners. II will hold the operators to
a full share Of responsibility for all that
may occur as the result Of their dcelRlon
to ignore the overture OF the Miners