The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-09-13
Young Republican Points Out Some
Startling Facts
He Shows the Drawbacks and Wrongs of the
Strikers and the Trusts
And Points Out That the Only Remedy IS TO Have Govern
ment in the Hands of the Common People

John Mitchell. president Of the
United Mine Workers OF America. In
the 9th Of September number writes
in Golfers Weekly Of the great strike
in the anthracite coal regions 20
Pennsylvania. The article il concise.
cleverly written and all that the
cause Of labor could want in point OF
fair and clear representation II IL
entitled The Voice of Labor" or
course he presents the cause Of labor
alone. His points are apparently well
taken. To Judge OF so great a matter
as TO how true the article describes
the actual conditions in the anthracite
fields, one must Investigate for him.
self Labor finds but little good In
trusts or corporations Labor articles
rarely concede any fairness honesty
or good intentions 10 the trust. Yet.
the trusts are not so bad but one can
find employment sufficient for a llyell
hood. II sometimes borders on the
verge OF luxuries which are nj the
bottom Of strikes Strikes are not
always for necessities. Striking for
an eighthour and against ten.hour
day. Is not as much a strike or neces- |
slty MS for luxury. Many OF the men
who control the trusts work many
more hours each day than their men.
whom they employ In their various
departments. The question Of actual
work think ls often concealed by
demands for time for Improvement.
etc. But do you hnd tho workingman
improving his time when he has I'm
ished his days labOr7 DO you find
him at home or In the street? Eight
hours work means to great many
two hours more 10 spend In idleness.
A man who will not improve himself
when he ls working ten hours each
day will hardly be a safe risk to base
a plea for eight hour days With all
the seeming differences between
those who work and those who don't.
and the frantic efforts OF both sides
TO settle matters. the fact remains
that II Is human nature 10 rest. ami 9
let the other fellow do the work Men
work not from love OF work. but from
necessity. Those who do not have 10
labor, choose their occupation and call
what work they do recreation. There
Is an inherent tendency In mortal man
10 shlrk what work he does not
'hooso to do. Work we do not like Is
hought will move the foundation of a.
many labor troubles from the popular j.
dea OF downtrodden wage.earners. 10 =
he proper foundation OF this subtle Il
md hidden natural tendency In man y
o get work that pays big wages with W
'asy hours and light lifting. "'
II trusts were as bad az one might ''
20 led TO believe from some estimates 'h
Z them, We would find the bulk OF the uu
lboring classes In their employ. IN
he genuine American spirit OF free. We
ON. with a tiger In his vest pocket. V
'ould have long ago called a halt
mercian people will stand 80 much. the
hey will turn the grlndstone and OF
old their own nose 20 II, hut when vel
10 other fellow wants them 10 carry csc
10 water besides. they might think
10y had enough. They have thought ser
before on several important occa ha'
ons. the remains OF which YOU will yea
I'd In history. So, We cannot con. gor
stontly belve the trusts are so very too
'd else the people would clean them salt
the earth. When slavery asked kn,
2 another extension OF territory ana
2 broader scope the people rose up oro
a night and nled the shackles on bro
helpless slaves with their bayonets and
blood aud blew a breath OF freedom gro
ross the dismal swamps OF human \
hjugation with the cannons mouth "
10 supposo that laborsg mass.s Met