The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-08
The Anthracite Strike.

The Anthracite Strike.
No political party can afford to ex-
tract profit from the prevalence of
strike. in which so much misery must
be involved. Ii must be the wish OF
all men that a settlement can be
reached. beneficial equally to both par
ties.
At the same time there are points
which must have their influence upon
the public mind. and a discussion OF
which is both timely and proper. The
discussion is provoked by the oper-
ators themselves, most OF whom are re-
publicans. and could have been avoid
ed had they displayed 1.-THE of COM
mon sense.
From the first. the miners have ex-
pressed their willingness to submit to
arbitration. In their bill Of complaint
they recite grievances of so gross
/ character that there should have been
no hesitation about their removal; but
even on this point the men stopped
short. and We're willing TO abide by ar
b.tration, from which they could only
B expect 4 Part of their demands. 80 far
I they were conservative and orderly,
moving within the sphere of their hG-
man rights. The first thing the oper-
/ atOrs did was to ignore the whole body
I and to secure the quartering of state
I troops I'm the locality. so as to chal-
lenge conflict. Then they refused arbi-
trati0n as 4 principle: refused to recog-
nize the organization which acted fer
the miners. ana sought To deal win
the wOrkmen in detail. 20 as 10 break
their strength. FINDING that the stu
alton was having an adverse influence
on republican politics, the operators
finally consented 70 4 raise of 10 per
cent. but still refused 90 recognize the
organiZation. in consequence OF which
. tie strike still continues.
IL is Ia this Stage that = question, pc
/ litical in character. forces Itself into
the discussion. and if one Of the poi!ti-
ca Tartics has policy which meets
i a cteat economic crises. II IS but proper
that Il saoUId be given credit therefor.
/ Political parties exist merely rs agen-
cics thrOu-h which 90 carry ont public
. wants. In tho prcscn. ease. the Tepuh-
Z liC7n party mas ignored the relation of
capital and la3or. which is i,s misfOr-
tune. while. 10 its credit. the democrat
ic party has dealt with it in a manner
showing that it is abreast with the
new conditions which changed reia-
tons have made necessary.
CINE o. the declarations OF the Kansas
City platform is in favor of arbitra-
ticn and against the black list.
As long as labor rendered TO m
employer was personal, the human in
tcrest existing between the two could
. q. Z tafsr So g Of
I OpiniGn. In 50 far rs hose relations
still exist. settlement through The same
. agencies can be had. But new coz
di5i0n has grown up in which lGborcr
and employer 10 not meet. in which
there is not the sympathy born Of face
tO-face conference. and in which the
Iab0rer is Of no moro Importance TO
the corporate employer than nut or
shove. Thesup. over IS not only aa
Organized corporation at q distance, but
= combination Of organized corpora
tious. utterly blOodless and soulicss.
4 Thee ore millions OF men employed by
such corporations. in min.n-. manu-
factuI.ug. rai'Toajirg ana telegraphing.
When the personal grievance Of Gre
such employee becomes general to the
great body. how are The men affected
/ to secure redress? It will not do to
say that they can quit and 90 else
where. There IS nowhere else to go.
Z and If there were. the black list meets
thcm2 How. then. are such men to
proceed Plainly. the only method is
4 BY a responsible and conservative or
glnization. showing its orderly and
sacrificing spirit by n willingness to
accent arbitration. with the possibility
I that its award may be wholly adverse
10 them. When employers. such as
here outlined. refuse to acknowledge
/ such organization rs being the equiva-
4 lent OF their own. they are blind to
F their own interests. and must be
I brought to a sense OF their obligation
F 10 those who deal with them By that
strong public opinion which enters into
political action.
All democrats, as all republicans,
must regret the great strike which is
now IN progress. 1t is unfortunate
for ali concerned. But months before
that outbreak occurred the democratic
party took the question Of arbitration
into practical politics. and it is now
one OF the strong issues OF the cam
paign. Would We eXagserate ii we de-
ctared that IL was deserving or para
mountcy2 There are other questions
more slitterins and snowy. but which
Of them SO closely concerns the fire.
side. Look ct the poor man and his
infant children as they gather around
their little cabin, At the mercy OF
corporations. starvation staring them
in the face I'm land Of plenty, the
arm OF the state Is invoked in the in
terest Of Justice, Arbitration of labor
disputes is one OF the grandest claims
which the democracy makes to the peo-
pie Of the country today.
/