Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-20

,"o'S OeeH met with the re-
ply: we will not permit outsiders to
dictate to US in the management of our
auaifs We have nothing to arbitrate."
NOW that the managers of the COM
panies have been compelled by you and
thoroughly aroused public conscience
10 reoede from their position we are
proud that the firmness and the heroic
endurance of our men and women in
support of their rights and of a vital
American principle have won the VIC
tory. The poor underpaid workers of
these regions who toll hard from early
morning until late at night for a liveli-
hood. nobly supported by organized
labor in this and other lands, have
taught these corporation managers n
useful lesson in civic and social duty.
We exult over this tribute to the dig
nifty of labor because it is the triumph
of right and Of good public policy.
We do not, however, exult over our
opponents; we appeal to them now as
we have from the first to turn their
eyes to the future and to cooperate
with us in an effort to establish better
relations between employers and en-
plcye for the advantage of BOTH We
forgive them for their arrogant refusal
to deal with us, and in this hour when
they are forced to acknowledge their
inability to operate their mines without
our consent and cooperation, we hold
out the right hand of friendship and
ask them to join with us in securing
amicable relations and wholesome con-
ditions in this region.
We forgive them even for the false
accusations which they have made
against us. They charged us with be-
ing criminals. rioters and Anarchists
and our organization they denounced
as 'lawless and irresponsible" They
know and did know that their charges
We're untrue and without foundation in
fact: they know that every officer of
the United Mine Workers, from the
president down, has constantly urged
upon it's members the imperative need
OF respecting the law; that every man
who commits a deed of violence is an
enemy to our cause" has been our
watchword. Despite these admonitiors
supported with all our influence, there
have been few crimes and number
of misdemeanors chargable to those on
strike.
But we make the unqualified decla-
ration that the imported guardians OF
law and order, the companies Coal and
Iron police, have committed more I'M
provoked murders during this strike
than can be charged to the great army
of men who have been idle for the
past five months. We have repeated
ly and in language not susceptible of
demonstrations condemned trans
gressions of the law on the part OF
hn In tina yllr thncn ctril-e
and we challenge the coal companies
to point to any public utterance on
their part in which they have ever
deprecated acts of violence committed
by their hired guards.
We declare that ii was unfair and
unmanly for the coal operators to in
suit us while we were your guests and
to charge our organization with re-
sponsibility for acts of lawlessness
during the strike. 1t would be just as
logical to charge the army in the
Philippines with being an army of
murderers and robbers because few
crimes were committed by soldiers
there Until the millennium there will
be crimes in every community and
human nature is the same, no better
and no worse among the half-million
people upon III ''V wa
fields as it is everywhere in our
country.
The pretence of the operators that
they were unable to produce coal be-
cause intimidation kept from work
men who We're willing to work, has
been proven false by the fact that the
protection which they demanded has
decreased rather than increased the
number of men mining coal. A nun
dred thousand troops could not have
enabled the operators to start thelr
mines for the simple reason that tne
men who work them are members OF
our organization, men VINO We're ue-
termined to stand to the last for their
right TO organize and through their
organization to demand better wages
and improved conditions of employ
mont Deprivation, misrepresenta-
ton and troops together were not SUI
ficient to drive them into surrender.
The operators declared that they
would have nothing to do with the
United Mine Workers of America Out
they have found it necessary to recog-
nize the mower of that organization
through you, Mr.. President. anu 70
.ael. terms of peace which Will enable
Them 10 resume their business OF MIN
ing and selling coal. The recognition
of our strength thus forced upon tne
onerators by stern necessity we eAui.
over. not in any narrow spirlt' o".
hecause we believe it marks a 1orWaro
step to a new era. Upon the fouhda-
lions laid through war we are ready
to ioin with them in building Tor pet
ter conditions and d long ana lastiiis
peace.
The United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea since organization in the ahthra-
cite field has constantly sought 10 es-
tabl;sh. First, fair wages and Jus'
conditions of labor, conditlon Jus. "
both operators and miners. we nave
Z never made demands beyond the apli :
itv of the industry to pay on q Das'S
of equitable division of profits petweei,
labor and capital. Second ain,eaoie
relations between employers ana EN-; EN-,
nloyes. the latter speaking throhs II
their organization and their organic
lion aiding the companies in maintain
ing discipline. adjusting all dincui',es
bv conciliatory methods, avertins 10
cal strikes and lockouts and securing
; ...a,,,o ,n3 satisfactory conditions.