The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-19
Concerning Breaches of Faith.

roHN MITCHELL, president Of
the United Mine Workers Of
America, is deservedly receiv-
~ ing widespread praise for what
he recently wrote in the Independent
upon the sanctity of contracts; and al
though in the mine strike last year
the Markle employees at Jeddo We're
counseled and induced by Mr.. Mitchell
and his representatives to break q
contract in order that the miners bat
tie line should Ne continuous, the argu-
ment being that the end justified the
questionable means. yet with this ex-
ception we believe his theory and
practice coincide.
1T goes without saying" the indie
pendent article said, that every strike
and every lockout affects seriously
others than those directly engaged in
the strike or lockout. Great public
interests are involved, and it is GER
tainly a matter Of no small concern
to the public that some method he
adopted through which strikes and
lockouts may he entirely avoided. or at
least reduced to the minimum. FIX
perience has demonstrated that the
most practicable plan which the in
Geuuity of man has been able up to
this time to devise is for employers
to recognize the union, meet its repre-
sentatives in conference, enter into
trade agreements which define in detail
the conditions of employment which
shall obtain during the life of such
agreements. The constitution and
laws of nearly every labor organiza-
tion make it an offense punishable by
expulsion for any member to violate
a trade agreement or even by subter-
fuse 10 evade any of it's provisions.
The officers of the trade organizations
of the present day recognize the great
responsibility resting upon them, and
they are few indeed who dare, even
If they We're so inclined, ruthlessly to
disregard the sacred obligations of a
contract"
AS a statement of what should he
this last sentence could hardly he i'm
proved upon. That it accurately de-
scribes what is may we'll he doubted
in view of the exhibitions to the con-
trary continually on view. The Anal
gamated associations present strike is
conspicuously in evidence in this re-
spect. The strike of the tin plate
workers was in direct defiance of a
years contract, the ink upon which
l..
had no grievance over hours or pay;
all matters at issue between them
selves and the American Tin Plate
company had heen adjusted in confer
ence and the details of that agree
ment reduced to contract form. yet
when Shaffer said strike, they struck,
without a moments thought concern
ing the contract, and it was the same
at Joliet and Bay View. The
men had agreed TO work for
a year, and when Shaffers strike
order came they at first voted
to keep faith with their employers,
hut emissaries of the association were
sent TO talk them into an attitude of
perfdy and today they are idle.
Mr.. Mitchell wries that he has never
known an instance where the repre-
sentatives of capital and labor have
failed 10 agree when the two sat dowr
together, put their feet under the
table and told one another the abso.
lutte truth" Honest conference is un.
doubtedly the best way to settle anS
-
that the leaders of labor unions shoulC
establish a character for good faitf
in the fulfllment OF their engagement.
than, that such a character should bt
established by the men who drec
large industries. We say more essen
tial, not because dishonesty is pardon
nble pon either side, but because
contract signed by an authorized agen
of a large employing corporation rep
resents something tangible in court
something that If broken on the com
panys side furnishes a basis for tn
recovery of damages; while Mr., Mar
sle. Mr.. Schwab and Mr.. Morgan hav
40 redress whatever when their con
:racts with employees are broken a
ne prompting of strike leaders The
:an only charge 1t up to the scor
which they reckon against the insti
satots Of such infidelity and be there
~ psrhaps unfortunately prejudice
against trades unionism in ali II
forms.
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