New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-20
A NATIONAL BOARD NEEDED.
DR.. ADLER DISCUSSES THE EVILS DIS
CLOSED BY THE COAL STRIKE.

In his address before the Society for Ethical
Culture Carnegie Hall yesterday morning DIT.
Felix Adler spoke The Evils Disclosed by the
Coal Strike OF all the evils the greatest. he
said was the menace 10 the American common
wealth presented by the two great conflicting
powers that had developed within the State. that
had brought about the social upheaval Of the last
few weeks. and against which the government has
appeared 10 be powerless
we have two great combinations he said.
"a combination Of wealth and a combination Of
labor. Both are menacing 10 the state No state
exist unless il is sovereign The state must be
bigger than anything within it
one great evil which ne pointed out he termed
the anti-commonWealth spirit. This was due. he
said, TO false political philosophy. II maintained
that the state existed only the welfare of the
individuals who composed ii. 1T is an untrue
and ambiguous proposition" he said. because
1t is taken TO mean that the state exists for the
benefit of only its living citizens.
The state exists for ideal purpose. for the
purpose of building up new civilization. As an
artist is lost in his work and is here the
beautiful, so the American State exists for the
purpose OF creating something new. founded
the idea of self-government. It also exists for
the well being Of all those generations OF Ameri-
citizens who 10 come after US"
This false political philosophy IL was Dr. Ad-
Ter said. that had given the ant-commonwealth
spirit and II due the attitude of disdain
Of those who were in control OF the nations
sources and wealth.
The attitude of disdain for the President Of the
United States in that notable meeting at the
White House-what was il but expression OF
the anti-commonwealth spirt?" he continued
Yet should not wonder at the attitude OF the
coal mine operators. he said. when men OF their
class had for years and years asked favors OF the
government and received grants and privileges for
their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. why should they not
come 10 regard government constituted for
their convenience" he asked.
Among the evils Of unionism DIT. Adler classed the
prevented man of superior skill from earning
the superior wage. the idea that the manual Ia
bOrer the sole producer. the boycott. the SYM
pathetic strike and the using of the strike 10
crush other unions.
The cure Of bad organization is more oTganiza-
uon." he said. better organization. The worst
evils come from the small organizations. The
larger the organization the responsible and
the more conservative IL becomes
In closing ne said:
zone great lesson of the strike is the necessity
Of the formation of public opinion. We need
natiOnal commission. national board. when those
great crises arise, with power at 20 investi-
gate and ascertain the facts Public opinion is
Irresistible but require the facts. and be
placed early possession of the facts. that we
shall not be misled 10y Misrepresentation and dis
tortiOns Of the truth by either side. For this pur-
in devising tools for the purposes OF science
and the arts and industry. have been back
ward in deVising social tools. And the strike has
Gho haf We