The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-04
AN uNJusTIFIABLE STRIKE.

From the Birmingham News
 The action of the executive board of the United Mine Workers of America, District of Alabama, in ordering a sus- pension of work at the Pratt mines di- vision of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company is not iustifable- Such a strike is a violation of the cor tract between the operators and the miners, and will not receive the moral support of the public, without which no strike can hope to win.
 The contract between the mine workers and the operators does not require the latter to make collections such as the miners arc now seeking for the benefit of the anthracite strikers, nor did 1t ever contemplate such a thing. The company, under the terms of the con- tract, agl ees to collect certain dues from the miners for the actual maintenance of the local miners union and for the eX- perse of the representatives of said unions, but when the contract was drawn ID and signed neither party to it in- tended that the company should with hold assessments from the wages of miners against the objection Of the in- dividuals assessed for a purely benevo- lent cause The company has no legal or moral right to make such collection, without the consent Of each individual miner, and it is unreasonable to expect it to do so.
 There is no difference between the min CTS and the operators with reference to any local question. The entire trouble grows out of an effort to compel those miners who object to contributing to the Pennsylvania strikers to do so This is a matter between the miners themselves and should be settled entirely by them It Is unjust to hold the operating company responsible for any disagreement within the miners union and it is equally unfair to seek to make the company do that which 1t has no legal or moral right to do. It is hardship on the Birmingham dis trict that its industrial operations should be threatened with paralysis because the miners union desires to use the opera tors as medium through which to en- force discipline in their own ranks.
 The settlement of the wage question in the summer gave promise of another year of harmony and prosperity in industrial circles. That this condition is to be dis turbed by dragging in an outside question which does not and should not involve any one but the miners organization it. self, is not only to be regretted, but con- demned. The leaders of the miners have blundered and unless their unwise action is rescinded, the step which they have taken may lead to situation which will not only bring suffering to themselves and the employing corporations, but will result in heavy losses to the business community.
 There is no occasion for a strike in Alabama, and the wisdom and modera- ton which have so often characterized the councils of local labor organizations, should be promptly called into play to avert serious and widespread injury to business operations and a distinct im- pairment of the prosperity which now blesses alike all classes and conditions
 The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company has positively and definitely determined that it's position is moral, just and legal, and that 1t cannot with self respect rescind it's order to strike, be- cause that order was ill-consldered, is wrong in principle and breaches solemn contract