The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-28

At Bar Harbor, Me-, Monday, Abram
s. Hewitt, ex-mayor OF New York, was
asked whether arbitration was the only
means that remained whereby the
great anthracite coal strike might be
ended, and whether or not 1t was an
equitable solution of the difficulty. He
said:
You ask whether the time has not ar
rived for arbitration in order to end the
coal strike In the anthracite region. l
think the time has arrived when the plain
truth should be told. as well to the strk-
ing miners as to the public. from some
recognized advocate of trade organiza-
tions as beneficial agencies for the i'm
provement of the condition of working
men. For q quarter of a century i have
uniformly maintained the right and the
duty of association. both on the part OF
employers and employees. Such organiza-
tiOns, however. must be for lawful puf-
poses and must look to the accomplish
ment of results founded on justice. When
claims are made contaraly to the funda-
mental conditions upon which society is
founded, they must be resisted at all haz-
ards. l am clear that the claims of Mr..
Mitchell and the organization over which
he presides are in contraventton OF the
principles of free government and of the
rights of men to earn their living In any
lawful way, without interference from
organized labor or organized capital.
WHAT MITCHELL SEEKS.
The unhappy controversy now existing
Is not based upon any reasonable claim
which labor can make for shorter hours
or better wages. 1t is true that Mr..
Mitchell alleges this to he the object of
the strike, but as a matter of fact 1t is
notorious that the real object is to secure
the recontion of his national organiza-
ton as an authority entitled to decide
upon the rates of wages and the Condi-
tons of labor In the coal fields wherever
situated. If this demand be conceded 1t
will not be possible for any man not hold
ing union card to secure employment
III the coal fields. This will amount to a
denial of the rights of every man to sell
his labor in free market The conces-
sion of this demand will make Mr.. Nit
chell the dictator of the coal business and
put him in control of votes enough to
decide the next presidential election.
The right to labor is inherent in every
human being and cannot be surrendered
without the sacrifice of individual liberty
and of private property. 1t therefore
cannot be arbitrated any more than the
right of a man to his own home If it
shall be claimed by an outsider who prof
fers arbitration. An offer of arbitration
Is always attractive, but there are many
things which cannot be submitted to ar:
btraton. and among them none is so i'm
portant to the workingman as the right
to sell his labor in free market. The
e. operators cannot yield this point without
being disloyal to the owners of the prop
erty and to the workmen who carry on
the opera tionS.
1t would be far better to abandon the
business Of mining anthracite coal than
% concede the demand of any man or set
,r to hn rify,f of n1ny
md of labor upon which the whole struc-
,urc of free government is founded, and
20 which this country owes phenomenal
progress. In my judgment, therefore, the |
operators are only doing their plain duty |
in declining to arbitrate a question which |
is in the domain of conscience and in |
wolves the personal liberty of the indi- |
vidual.
The only solution of the trouble is for |
Mr.. Mitchell to order the strike off with
out delay. When this is done, if there |
be grievances to be abated they will be |
promptly adjusted between the local oper-
ators and the local unions. The right |
of association Is not in question. This is |
admitted by both employers and en-
ployes. What is denied, and properly so,
is the power, by he issue of union cards, |
to refuse employment to non-unon men,
and thus condemn them to ostracism,
starvation and death. Such a result is
abhorrent to justice and is fatal to per-
sonal liberty.
RESUMPTION OF WORK.
1t is claimed in some quarters, and al
legged to be the general opinion. that the
operators ought to resume work without
regard to the menacing conditions with
which the anthracite coal mines are now
surrounded. Such a position does not ap-
pear to me to be reasonable. AS the
owne's OF property, the operators un-
doubtedy owe Il duty to- the community,
which is suffering great loss from the
scarcity OF fuel. The right of private
property, guaranteed by the constitution,
is always subject to the underlying prin-
cipe that It is to be used so as not to
damage society.
Any claim of the operators, therefore,
that they can do with their own as they