The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-15
FIXING the RESPONSIBILITY.

Already the task Of fixing the respon-
sibility for the great steel strike has be-
gun and writer's upon current phases Of
the industrial situation are pointing out
the course to be pursued by the men
engaged in the great controversy. The
New York Sun has the following to say
respecting the attitude of j. P. Morgan
to the wage earners and the response
bilities which devolve upon the indi-
vidua1 who succeeds in obtaining emin-
ence in the world of business:
There are conflicting statements as re-
CARDS Mr.. j. P. Morgan's responsibility
for the strike of the steel workers. 1t
has been alleged that at the conference
in New York last Saturday between rep
resentatives of the Steel Trust and off,
GERS Of the Amalgamated Association
Mr.. Morgan was brusque, undiplomatic
and resolutely opposed to policy of con-
| Citation and compromise. On the other
| hand, it is now stated in dispatches from
Pittsburg to New York and Philadel-
| phia newspapers that Mr.. Morgan earn
estly desired to settle the differences be-
tween the Amalgamated Association and
the Steel Trust, but that he deferred to
the wishes of Mr.. Schwab. the president
of the United States Steel Corporation,
who advised a fight to a finish" with
the strikers and no further concessions.
Upon the justice and reasonableness of
the claims advanced by the parties to
this unfortunate controversy between
organized labor and organized capital it
is not necessary at this time to pass
S,,1-
point out a grave danger which arises
from the existing system Of industrial
consolidation. Too much power is vest
ed in one man and it Is immaterial in
the present instance whether that man
be Mr.. ]. P. Morgan or President
Schwab. On this point the public is gen
orally agreed: Mr.. Morgan is a great
financier, but something more than
knowledge of banking and the ability to
| finance big enterprises is required to es-
| tablish the relations of capital and la
| Dor upon a basis of mutual respect and
| confidence. Mr.. Schwab may know all
| about the process of making steel-he
! may be the greatest master Of the art
in the United States. Much more than
mechanical ability is necessary to secure
wise and permanent solution Of the
most difficult problem now before the
| American people. Even If a man pos
sessed all the qualities of statesman
| ship; if he were as skillful in arranging
compromises as the most accomplished
diplomatist of history; if he were able
! to adjust the balances with precision
between conflicting interests; If he were
| big minded enough to understand the
| menace to the general welfare of con-
slant friction between labor and capital;
| if he were broad enough to sink his own
personality. to consider his own private
interests of less Importance than the
public good-it might be dangerous to
invest him with the power which Mr..
Morgan and Mr.. Schwab are credited
with exercising. AS neither gentlemen
possesses these qualities the danger is
| many times greater.
The fact must be borne in mind in con-
sidering the events which have culmin-
ated in the strike of the steel workers
that public interests are deeply involved
If Mr.. Morgan were simply the proprie-
tor of one mill he might take any po-
sition he chose in regard to the con-
ditions under which he would operate
his plant. If a strike should ensue II
would affect only a few hundred men
The other plants would continue work;
there would be no general shutdown In
an important industry: no interruption
of business: no widespread suffering
Mr.. Morgan, however, is at the head oil
corporation which controls many mills
which employs many thousands o.
skilled workmen, and which has the pow.
err to bring misery upon many commu
mites in vindicating what it conceive!
to be the rights of capital. He is tn,
moving spirit in corporation which
( while representing investments Of pri
vate capital, is in many respect of a pub
lie character. Mr.. Morgan, therefore
is under obligations to the public to ad
minister the trust which he has organ
lied in such a way as to promote tn
4 general welfare while protecting his ow,
3 interests and the interests of those asso
. ciated with him in the management O
the United States Steel Corporation. I
. he does not realize his responsibility t
the public: if he regards the strike O
l the steel workers as a matter of mer
4 private concern, he is sadly out of plac
{ as the arbiter of differences between or
q ganized capital and organized labor. H
should devote his unquestioned abilit
to financial operations and leave tn
management of the steel corporation t
men better able than he to bring abou
e harmonious relations between labor an
Il capital. He should make way for me
# Of broader judgment and greater pa
tience-men who prefer conciliatory tao
tics and compromise to a fight to a fin
ish." He should yield to men who rec
: ognize their responsibility to the publ,
and who are willing to make sacrifice
d for the common good. He should defe