Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-20
VIEW OF AN OPERATOR
STATEMENT OF ISSUES GIVEN
BY ANTHRACITE PRESIDENT.
The Real Purpose Of Trade Unionism
as Seen by One EN-
ployer.

The New York Times Of today says: The
president OF one OF the coal railroads yes
terday made public the following statement
as representing his ideas on the influence
of labor unions. and especially in connec-
ton with the anthracite strike. The state
ment was given out on condition that the
name of the author be withheld 1t reads
as follows:
The operators. in consenting to submit
to commission the questions growing out
OF the present miners strike, were influ-
enced to do this. not alone by the scarcity
and high prices Of all kinds Of fuel coupled
with the great alarm Of the public over the
gravity of the situation-they were not In
doubt. either as to the final outcome of the
present struggle II prosecuted to a conclu-
sion: but they. In common with all large
employers of other classes OF workmen, are
deeply interested and concerned over the
evident spirit Of agitation and unrest which
pervades the labor element OF our people.
They are impressed particularly with soma
features of the present movement as being
more serious and menacing than any pre-
vious one in the history of our country.
A labor union propaganda has been in
augurated and is being actively promoted
which embraces every class OF labor in
every field of Industrial activity through
out the country. The cardinal principle on
which this movement is founded Is that
none but union workingmen shall be al
lowed to work In this country and work.
man who Is not a union man with his fam
lily shall not be allowed to live here.
"A significant feature of this movement
is that each class of labor is organized
within itself, and each organization Is fed
Grated with many. II not all, the others,
with the same well-defned purposes in
view. These ostensibly are to increase
wages, decrease the hours Of work, and i'm
prove the general condition of the worker.
"In reality the following objects are
sought for and being accomplished the en-
tire power and influence Of unionism being
exerted to this end: To reduce the output
and impair the efficiency Of the good work.
man: to stifle his ambition and destroy his
individuality and Independence; to raise the
wages of the poor, indifferent, slothfui
workman to the same basis as that OF the
good one. regardless of whether his skill
and ability entitle him thereto or not: the
results being that the energy and efficiency
of both classes are reduced to a lower level
and wages advanced to a higher one.
THE apostles OF this movement, follow
ing the example of those Of the church
some centuries ago, have apparently adopt
ed as their motto The union can do no
wrong Anything done In the name OF
labor is right
The wel-known occurrences in the an
thracite region since the present strike be-
gan prove conclusively the foregoing to be
the creed of this modern faith, and tho
practice and preaching OF Its leaders and
of all those who actively sympathize or
who are federated with it are in exact ac-
cord Herewith.
"some men in high position and Of great
influence, others of unquestioned intellf-
gence and undoubted integrity, and still
others of marked shrewdness, but poiti-
cally ambitious, have been from one motive
or another. and still are. giving the leaders
OF this movement great encouragement and
a standing generally before our people that
has seriously misled some OF our best and
wisest men.
Realizing the grave and threatening fea-
lures of this movement and Its evident
tendency, and with the earnest desire and
hope that not only should settlement or
the pending coal strike be accomplished
thereby. but, Of infinitely greater and wider
Importance, that some rulings be made ana
principles evolved and established that shall
govern the organization and administration
Of trades unions throughout our country.
the representatives of the anthracite coal
companies, after much careful thought. pre-
pared the address that was submitted to
President Roosevelt. embodied in which
were certain suggestions as to the type and
caliber of men who in their opinion. should
constitute the commission to pass upon the
merits OF the present controversy, and also
the much more momentous questions re-
ferred to above, the proper solution or
which Is Of the supremest Importance to
the future best interests of this entire coun-
try.
THAT they, or any Of them. IN framing
this address, or that Mr. Morgan, acting
tnem IN presenting II 10 tHe f'FtsiueHt,
sought to take advantage Of the poor min
ers by trying to pack the commission or
dictate who the members of 1t should be.
as has been intimated by certain parties
and newspapers. is too utterly absurd to be
dignified by a denial
Their sole desire and purpose was and
is to have this whole controversy and
everything leading up to and growing out
of it submitted to and passed upon by
body of the adblest brainest. beSt-fnformed
men that could be selected from our people
by the President of the United States, to
the end and with the express object of hav-
ing it raised above politics. personal ambi-
ton or greed, prejudice or malice Of any
kind and placed on the highest possible
plane.
1.-The gentlemen representing the anthra-
cite coal mining interests earnestly hope
that the commission appointed will handle
the whole subject and all the questions COL
lateral to 1t on the broad, patriotic lines in
dictated above, and in doing Will reaffirm
the great enduring principles of our laws
and institutions respects the rights OF
persons and property and the duties of cit
fzenship as being those which shall In fu-
ture govern the trades union organizations
OF our country in the administration of their
affairs as they must and will govern the
action of all good citizens of these United
States"
When the substance of this statement
was communicated to of the bankers
who had been active In settling the strike.
he said:
However one may agree with these sem
timents. 1 consider statement of them