New-York tribune., 1901-08-17
SACREDNESS OF A CONTRACT.
WHAT JOHN MITCHELL. OF THE UNITED
MINE WORKERS. THINKS.

John Mitchell president Of the United Mine work-
ers Of America, in The Independent.
e 4S oeTy SSan SFho those end
engaged In the strike or lockout. Great public IN
terests are involved, and II is certainly matter
Of no small concern to the public that some method
be adopted through which strikes and lockouts may
be entirely avoided at least reduced to the mini
mum. Experience has demonstrated that the most
been able up to this time to devise is for employers
10 teGognze the union meet its IN
fine in detail the conditions of employment which
The constitution and laws of nearly every labor or
ganization make 1t an offence punishable by ex-
nrovsions The 5cers of the fraGe organizstions
Of the present day recognize the great responsible
ity resting upon them, and they are few indeed
TO "I disregard the sacred ob!igafons Of contract
know of many & instances i where contracts which
trade unions have been entered into with employ
organizations have insisted that the contracts
Superseded the constitution and laws and took
cases where the members of a local union CON
nected with nation9l organizasti9n went on strike
than was provided for in the contract made between
alton a in which the officers Of the national union
promptly hlled the places OF the strikers with
charged with or convicted of breach of faith
as their power and responsibility have increased.
they have become correspondingly conservative In
thew are here to stay; they are a power which
must be reckoned with. they were not formed from
theories or impTacticable policies; they have not
grown 10 their present vast magnitude without
GOOD cause The time has passed when wages and
Conditions of employment can be fixed satisfactorily
al the door Of the factory or at the mouth or the
mine. the workers insist-and justly too-that their
wages shall be agreed TO in conference halls, where
the controlling influences; they insist upon being
renresented in these conferences by men qualined
nv education and experience TO defend their inter
ests in able a manner as the interests OF capital
are defended protected by its representatives
THE assumption of employers of labor that
because they own a mine. a mill. a railroad or a
hoy the absolute right to do with
their property they choose, regardless OF the
effect OF their action upon the welfare of the men
and women they employ. upon the public inter
ests Is so superficial as scarcely deserve notice.
road or factory. which Is chartered by the state
and consequently responsible to the people. is GER
lure the welfare of society by throwing its employees
into ideness simply because they demand the
right 10 bargain collectively to the wages and
conditions which shall govern their employment;
peace until this right is conceded by the employers
OF Ia bor | have never known instance where
the representatives Of capital and labor have failed
10 agree when the two sat down together put their
feet under the table and told another the alb
solute truth. | confident that every great
strike which has taken place in our country could
and honest with the other II is only positively
absurd but also unwise. for employers OF labor 10
stand upon their own preconcetved ideas OF their
they would rather close their mills their factories
or their mines than recognize the trades unions
discuss the wages they shall pay the labor they
much reason in the position were the employees to
refuse TO treat with the managers, the superin-
tendents or the counsel employed by the stock
holders OF any corporation IL the employers are
10 treat labor fairly they should have no fear or
recognizing the trade union.