Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-11-12
New Use for
the WAflitfao

II TA1ENE Is VAST SlSIllllCdIlCc III
the action of Gov. Tanner of
Illinois in commanding the
IL State militia to prevent i'm
ported negro labor from TAX
ing the places vacated by striking coal
miners. Briefly stated, here are the
facts pertinent to the case. About a
year ago the coal operators ofIllinois,
in response to an overwhelming pub
lie sentiment against the continued
starvation of miners, agreed on a
minimum wage scale. They fixed it a
shade above living wages. There is
keen competition among the opera
tors, and as q sequence wages ever
tend to fall below the danger line.
This is the iron law of wages. The
owners of the Virden mines being un-
scrupulous beyond average mine own
ers-and this is the severest indict-
mer1t ever made against human be-
ing-decided in April to break their
agreement. They did so and cut the
wages of their men. There was no
law to prevent them from violating
their pledge, and they had a legal
right to reduce wages.
The men struck. This was their
legal right While the courts have
decided that railroad men cannot quit
their employment without the permits
sion of the companies, it is yet lawful
for miner to stop work when his
wages will not support life. Thus far
everything had proceeded according
to the rules and regulations of the
prevailing competitive industrial
system.
A few weeks ago the 1nine-owners
went into the negro convict camps OF
Alabama and secured the services Of
negro coal miners who had served
their sentences in expiration Of crimes.
They shipped them to the mines and
put them to work. This was legal.
it was constitutional There is a law
against making a contract for Ger
man orchestra and importing these
pauper musicians to the United States,
but there is no law covering the case
under consideration.
The strikers protested. They threat
ened violence The operators built
stockade and armed the negroes. The
latter paraded the streets with guns
i'll hand. Agents in the South sent
1ilOIC llSSlOCS 10 lllS IL Oiil, III Siittl ~
OF armed guards. Then there was
riot between the armed strikers and
the armed guards and negroes. This
was illegal.
At this point Governor Tanner called
out the militia to disarm the miners,
negroes and guards. This was legal.
He instructed the militia to prevent
the importation of negro miners into
Virden. This was illegal and Gov.
Tanner admits the illegality of his act
and pleads 1.-The higher law" Inpass-
ing it may be said that Governor
Mount of Indiana justihes Governor
Tanner of Illinois and says he has
done the same thing and is ready to
do it again.
Verify, we have lived to see evil days.
1t has come to pass that workmen
cannot scompete" without inter
ference of State militia. No wonder
that the Organs of content" are
wildly indignant and are calling for
the impeachment of Tanner. lie has
intertered with the sacred right OF
contract" He has tramped on the
inalienable right of a human being to
sell his labor i'll the cheapest market.
He has throttled free competition.
Here are American citizens and vo-
ters ready and willing to take the
places of starving strikers and the
guns Of a militia company are pointed
at them.
1t is worthy of note that this is the
first act of Governor Tanner which
hasmet with public approval. Regret
is expressed that the imported Ia
borers happened to be negroes and
that a racial issue is raised, bat out
side of corporation papers and circles,
this illegal outrage" is viewed with
general expressions ofacclaim. What
does this mean?
1t is another nail in the coffin Of
competition. The legal judicial and
executive farce ofattenpting to enforce
competition among wage workers IS
almost at an end Industrial compe-
tition means bankruptcy to capital
and starvation to workmen. Wise
capitalists abandoned competition
long ago andtcok reftgein trsistsand