The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-04

as possible. They are INSTRUCTED by the
failure of the State authorities to fully
protect those who desire TO work TOT
them and by the failure of the national
government to enforce the statute under
which the Mine Workers Association mas
already held TO be illegal. AS soon as
action OF that sort is effectively taken there
can be no doubt that the supply OF codi
will be ample. The question at present
Is merely whether an unlawful assocla-
ton shall be permitted in this country,
by means which are illegal, to decide VINO
snail be allowed TO work; what snaii DC
MS hours of work and what he shal De
PAID. This is contrary TO the spirit anu
the letter OF our laws. IL they are entorceu
such an effort will cease at once.
while the United Mine Workers have
been endeavOring ever since the strike pc
gan TO prevent the production OF coal, the
operators have been actively seeking to in
crease the same and are now actually pro-
ducing about Is per cent. of the norman
output This company now has about l,oo
men engaged in the business. The produc..
ton Is steadily increasing and the rate Oh
increase would have been more rapid Dut
Tor the failure of the state and natonai
governments to protect the life, liberty ana
property of those desiring to work for the
operators and to protect the operators from
the onslaught OF this illegal combination 10
restrain and monopolize the entire 1uei
supply of the country. If the functions of
government in this regard were efficiently
discharged. production would be rapid
enough to supply all necessities.
GRAVE QUESTIONS.
Grave as are the matters mentioned In
the Presidents memorandum, the questions
fundamentally involved are even more Sc
rious. They are whether freedom of life
and property are to continue I'm this coun-
try or are to exist merely in accordance
with the Will OF combinations and con-
spiracies which are prohibited by the Con-
stitution and the statutes and the common
law, and whether this company's faithful
employees are to be delivered to the destruc-
ton which surely awaits them in case of
triumph of the Mine Workers Association.
This company respectfully and earnestly
urges upon the President the use of his
lawful powers in the premises which was
made in the Debs case by one of his prede-
cessors and which was sustained by all the
courts. If the national government would
now enforce the law with equal promptness
the strike would end next week.
THE representative of the United Mine
workers has now stated that its members
are willing to return to work. and he has
frequently said that he did not demand Off
cial recognition of the union, notwithstand-
ing that the Shamokin convention of March
last resolved that the employment of non
union men should be a cause for striking.
The condition of returning to work which
he makes is that a commission be appointed
by the President to investigate existing
conditions and that the mine workers and
the operators agree to abide by its recon-
mendationS. The personnel of such COM
mission is uncertain; its action would be
without authority of law or precedent, and
1T would be without knowledge of the vary
ing conditions in the different collieries and
regions. This company has no power to
commit the welfare and existence of the
property to such uncertainties. Moreover,
as already pointed out, the Mine Workers
Association is an illegal body and has no
lawful control over its members. This Is
shown by the fact that after the settlement
of 1900 local strikes were more numerous
than ever, and that its representative is
now constantly counseling against violence,
while nevertheless outrages and murders
are OF constant occurrence. He must.
therefore, be powerless or insincere, and
any assurances as to the future would be
without value.
I'm order, however that this company
endeavor in good faith~to remedy any griev-
ances which may exist upon the part Of its
employees at its several collieries IL Is will
ing that the same shall be ultimately passed
upon by the judges of the Court of Common
Pleas Of the State of Pennsylvania for the
district where such collieries are situated.
These are the local officers of the law hav-
ing knowledge of the facts. 1t is willing,
therefore, in case of a resumption of work
to add to its notice already posted pro-
vision to that effect similar to that in Mr..
Baers statement. This would be as fol-
lows
IF the employer and the employees at
any particular colliery cannot reach a
satisfactory adjustment of any alleged
grievance ii shall be referred to the judges
of the Court of Common Pleas of the dis
trict in which the colliery is situated for
final determination. F."