The Indianapolis journal., 1902-11-05

One of the Problems to Confront the
CcaI Strike Commission.
New York Financier


The committee appointed by President
Roosevelt to report on the status of re-
lationS between the anthracite coal oper-
ators and their employees, with recon-
mendations as to scale of wages, ETC., has
great opportunity to impress the results
of its investigation upon capital and labor
for all time to come. The hope is eX
pressed in high administrative circles, and
is echoed the length and breadth of the
land, that this committee will achieve such
distinction, although primarily it has been
brought together to investigate the anthra-
cite strike question alone. AS an impartial
body, composed of highly intelligent, fair
minded men, appointed directly by the
President of the United States, it has a
standing superior to that occupied by the
average arbitration conference 1t is no
exaggeration to say that it's work will
attract more or less attention, both in this
country and in Europe, than has been be-
slowed upon the labors of any similar body
in recent years. For that reason, If for
no other, it is not unlikely that the COM
mittee will be led to enlarge the scope of
its original purpose, in dealing with the
question of strikes in general.
One of the first problems which the COM
mittee will encounter is that of contract.
III two parties enter into a dispute, COM
mon sense dictates that there is little use
In employing peacemaker If settlement
cannot be enforced because of the incom-
potency of one of the contestants to fulfill
any responsibility imposed. The latter po-
sluon, In measure, describes the present
situation so far as the coal miners are
concerned. OF course the arbitration con-
ference has no authority to require
acquiescence in its findings All that it
can do is to recommend certain things.
The operators may be held to their pledge
to submit, but what of the anthracite
miners? The word of the president of the
United Mine Workers may have been given
in good faith, but the United Mine Work.
ers, as an organization, do not enter into
the present controversy. Even that they
should matters little. The passing of their
word entails no legal responsibility upon
them, and they are free to enter upon an
other strike at once If they are not salts
ned with the outcome of the present con-
ference. 1t may be argued that the oper-
ators are equally at liberty to shut down
the mines, but this does not alter the case
Arbitrations are useless. in the long run.
and they can accomplish little unless the
disputants stand on a common plane as re-
CARDS their liability for failure to fulfill
contracts. Capital, being, as a rule. repre-
sented in corporate form already occ1nies
this position; labor a strenuous contestant
and an earnest advocate for what il as
sumes TO be its just rights, has never
risen to the dignity of a legal existence
so far as its unions are concerned 1t
would seem, therefore, that the present ar
bitrauon committee will find itself handi-
capped In the premises IL IL entertains the
hope of pointing the way to avoidance of
strife In the future. Unless labor consents
TO be responsible for its wrongdoing 1t
can ever be treated otherwise than As an
irresponsible element The more conserya-
tive labor leaders are beginning to recognize
this fact, and the day of Incorporated labor
unions is nearer at hand than many pco-
pie imagine. Incorporation means that II
fixes in law the status OF the organized
body That is what employers want de-
termined. If they are to assume that here
after the federal government. in an implied
II not actual sense. can invoke its powers
10 settle strikes by arbitration Proba blv
we are coming to some such irnposition
OF authority. But what assurance has cant
tai that the taking away of it's present now
ers TO protect itself will be an equitable
responsible bodies which cannot be held
TO the performance OF contract? win the
government guarantee enforcement of de-
cision to both sides alike?