The Tucson citizen., 1902-06-04
THE COAL MINERS STRIKE.


lie by maintaining relatively peacea6le
conditions They feel that SO long as
the peace officers or the army are not
called upon to suppress disturbance or
restore order that the people have
little if any interest in their conten-
tions. This is a mistake.
Stockholders and directors are apt
to overlook the distinct difference in
the attitude before the law of a corpor-
alton and an individual. They are apt
10 talk of their right To manage their
own property in their own way and
to resent the interference of the public
in their affairs. The fact is that the
corporation differs from the individ-
ual. among other things. in that 1t has
no natural or inalienable rights. 1t
is created by the people and invested
with certain privileges upon the theory
that the public interests will be pro-
noted thereby. The State or Terri
tory would never confer upon rail-
road company for example, the right
TO take the home of citizen from him
upon condemnation proceedings except
upon the theory that the public good,
the welfare of the greater number, will
be advanced. The constitutions OF all
the State. reserve to their legislatures
the right IL deprive any corporation OF
any privilege they may have con-
ferred. Therefore when corporation
ceases to promote the public welfare,
but uses the powers it has received
from the people for the purpose OF
depressing the people, then the object
for which the corporation was created
Is defeated
Certain corporations in Pennsylva
MIA were chartered for tie purpose
of mining coal for the use of the peo-
pie. Incidentally the corporations are
entitled to make fair and reasonable
profit on their operations hut that Is
not the main purpose for which the
people created them. The main pur-
pose is to supply the people with fuel,
Now. would these corporations be JUS
titled in managing their own property
in their own way should their way in
yolve a stoppage of work in the mines
and the whole country be brought
TO distress for want Of fuel? 1t might
afford the coal companies a far hand
somer profit to suspend operations for
a time. whether by a strike or other
wise. in order to work off coal which
has been already mined, at fancy
prices But this would not justify
them in bringing ruin upon the people.
for fuel is not only the handspring of
manufacturing and commerce, which
give the people their employment. but
it Is one of the necessares of life in
the homes.
If the mining companies and the
miners will not adjust their differences
and resume production, then it may be
necessary for the people. for their own
preservation, to adopt such measures
as will compel them to agree. The
mining companies are determined to
make money out of the situation, and
they will doubtless do so by taking
advantage of the public needs. They
have already done so by making an
enormous advance in the price of coal
already mined, although there was not
cent n nf ifG
duction. Suppose the present strike
should be permitted to continue all
through the next winter. because the
companies will not agree to pay
proper wages, or because the miners
viii not accept proper wages nor allow |
any one else to take their places. is all !
death In their homes? Are all these |
calamities to come because the gov
eminent and the people are helpless?
The men who work in the coal mines
are engaged in an exceedingly hazard
Gus as well as an arduous calling.
They take their lives in their hands
whenever they enter a mine, and they
should receive liberal wages They
are poor people, and can not hold out
long against the grossest Injustice
while their families are suffering for
bread. The rich mine owners can af-
ford to wait, and usually grow richer
by waiting. But the miner is speed
lily reduced to submission by starya-
tion As a rule he can be depended