The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-10-23

with responsibility for acts of law
llessness during the strike. 1t would
be just as logical to charge the
American army in the Philippines
with being an army of murderers,
torturers and robbers because a few
crimes were committed by soldiers
there. Until the millennium there
will be crimes ias every community
and human naturezjs The same, no
better and no worse. among the half
million people dependent upon US. in
the coal fields as it is everywhere Id
our country
The pretense Of the operators that
they were unable to produce coal be-
causeiutimiaaGon kept from work
mcn who were willing to work has
been proven false by the fact that
the protection which they demanded
has decreased rather than Increased
the number OF men mining coal. A
hundred thousand troops could nos
have enabled the operators to start
their mines, Tor the simple reason
that the men who work them arc
members OF the United Mine WorG
ers Of .America--men who are deter
mined to stand to the asst Ior their
rights to organize and through their
Organization % demand better wages
agd improve conditions Of employ
ment Deprivation, nisrepresenta-
ton and troops together weea not
sufficient to drive them into surrend-
er. They stood shoulder TO shoulder
to the last. The operators declared
that they would have nothing to dc
with tbe United Mioe Workers Of
America, but they have found it
necessary to recognize the power OF
the United Mine Workers through
you, Mr.. President, and tosoek terms
of peace which will enable them to
resume their business Of mining and
selling coal. The recognition Of our
strength thus forced upon the oper-
aross by stern necessity we exul t
over, not in any narrow spirit, but
Because we believe it marks a for
ward step toward a new era. Upon
the foundations laid through war we
| are ready to join with them in build
ling for better conditions and a long
1ahd lasting peace.
Fair wages Roqui red
| The United Mine Workers Of
America since its organization il the
nthracite field has constantly sought
I'd establisA
First. Fair wages and just condi-
tions Of labor, conditions just to
both operators and miners We
have never made demands, beyond
the ability Of tile industry to pay on
/ tie basis OF equitable division Of
profits between labor apd capital.
/ Second. Amicable relations be-
tween employers ard employees, the
latter speaking through theiror4ani-
zdton and their, Organization aiding
the companies ia maintaining dis
cpline, adjusting all difficulties by
co ncilliatory methods, avertipg local
strikes and lockout and securing
Stable and satisfactory conditions
to the industry. Our organiza ion
by the same methods which we have
proposed here has secuted just such
relations and just. such resultsin the
coal fields OF the country. Organi-
cation, like an individual, must stand
upon what it has done and The life it
has lived. We invite scrutiny and
Investigation of our record and
character.
In the Soft Coal Fields,
Tn the soft coal fields we have joint
conferences with the operators and.
with them We adjust differences, We
sign joint agreements, together we
preserve discipline, settle disputes
and maintain harmony and stability
in trade. We have asked the anthra-
cite operators to inquire Of the soft
coal operators how well they are
| pleased with their business relations
with US, whether or not we keep
agreements and render satisfactory
service for wages paid to our mem
bers. One business manmight thus
learn of another what is the charac
ter Of our organization, Many soft
coal operators lave publicly declared
that they would not dispense with
our cooperation and would deem it
4 G 4, 4 = 1-.-l-