The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-18
A GUARANTEE.
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY. August IL
ARE THE MINERS ENTIRELY
WHDSGs


The strike among the miners Of the East
presents a very serious problem. and an
der such circumstances that {, may be
viewed without the public prejudice
which Is often aroused by similar COM
binations, accompanied By violence. The
miners have been remarkably patient and
forbearing. under what mist seem to
them extreme provoca,ion and whatever
the result may be Il viii always be re-
meubered as rnanlfesting The advantages
Of following conservative leaders. The
problem has two aspects' It presents. IN
the first place. because that Is the more
conspicuous phase. the relation between
the employer and tbs smpioye when nei-
Their wfIi yield 70 the other. SO far each
has exercised an induhi,abls right under
the constitution and laws OF this country.
The ernploys has said that he will not
work except for a certain sum. the en-
ployer has replied that he does not want
the work done for him unless It can be
done for a certain sum.
II any two men. in normal conditions.
were met BY such difficulty. each would
60 hts own way and each would seek to
make his terms with other men II would
be. indeed. an everyday transaction ard
would attract no notice. II would only
sitrac; notice u the man who wanted the
work dore said that unless the other
agreed TO work on the offered terms he
w0fIa net only refuse 10 employ him
himself. but would use force 10 prevent
him working for anybody else. or. IL the
ore Offering to 90 the work should NOT
Only refuse 20 do Il on the terms offered.
but declare bis intention 70 permit no
body else 10 do Tie work fer him, The
latter Is the attitude OF the miners II
Is true that they have generally used
eniy words OF persuasion. bat thesy into
nation Is very much like that OF Queen
Es.xaAeth. who. when abe was trying 20
reconcile the Earl OF Leicester and the
Earl az Essex, said 10 the ons'T command
sou. ena 70 tno other Il entreas you" nu.
The command sounded Ike an ensrsaty.
and he eBtresty sounded Ike command.
When sornsthlnx like two hundred miners
accompanied ~ their wives congreEate
around another snd persuade him rot 70
70 70 work, T. e n good thing for him not
10 be ralslea BY tho persuasive ways OF
his fsllswp.
The ether aspect OF tho case is that
which presents the relation Of tho s,rlk-
tug miner to the government. At meet
sng acid In Bsliaire. Ohio. the local min
efs decided not TO &c on a strike: bat
large delegations had gathered lrorn other
districts, captured the meeting. outvoted
fire local miners snd passed a resolution
Declaring IN favor os the strike Many
Of the ieesl miners Declared their inten-
sion, notwithstanding The vote. ana partly
heeamse OF the means ~ which the rcso-
luton was nassed. 70 return 10 work.
TIE dispatch adds that trouble Is feared -
WHY shoaid trouble be feared because
seme az the miners are exercising the
.snle right OF freedom Of action as the
oghsrs9
Tho only answer shat csn ne given Is
that they must sacrifice their incllna-
tons Tor The good o. the majority. That
Il a Scry general prlscirle q com
manltv laws. hut The exercise OF that
pawer Is restricted 80 organised govern
snents. n IS enc ~ the chief functions
Of government. in fact. to sacrifice the
interests e minority lu she general
.eca. But II ether orxanlaa tiofss arc 20
be endowed With that power and conces-
ea that rlzAt. where Is tAs application q
n q terfnsnates
THE right 81 are majority . rula Is con-
ceava In all ASSEMBLIES ard political and
social organization. bat TO nan il corr
fagtes 70 recognise test rlsht except ne
voluntarily enters TIRE rank q spch crwsn-
fsaslen. That Is \ very important dlS-
tlnefion between the principle q ma
fovgsss rule ard she application % 4 ey
the miners II Viii Re conceded thst
any dsstric~ organization or any local
nssan Of watch TIE miners are MANNERS
ard IN whose deliberations they took a
rars. should be hound - tie actl5a 81
tse majority. TIE striking miners are
nss content with thls heweTer. ans tu-
ssss that whether rnen are members
or not 81 the unions, or whether or rot
they havc participated In the meetings
or whether or not they have grievance.
they shall take part In TIE strike The
same as II shsy had.
This f. eniy the controversial view ~
tire situation. The strikers are rot resz-
exins cat The Situation rev. they AIS
rrhtfnx for wAst thsy believe - os thss-
riwhts. Thax are us3nx ''pessuas tonr or
shreats. With she Sauaa idea THAR an Ba-
vaainx army destroys che erapz % the
enensy. Thsy hsVs 10 personal ven
Keanee 70 vreas upon the untovtuaaie
crop owner. any more thar the striking
miner has personal gradge against tAe
usa he seeks to keep oss sreE NegS.