The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-17

a thoroughly aroused public conscience
to recede from this position. we are
proud that the fsrnneSS and the heroic
endurance of our men and women in
support of their rights and of 'ltal
American principle have won the vic
tory.
THE poor, underpaid mine workers of
these coal regions who toll hard from
early morning until late at night for a
livelihood, nobly supported by organized
labor in this and other lands, have
taught these corporation managers a
useful lesson in civic and social duty.
We exult over these tributes to the dig
nifty of labor because it is the triumph
of right and of good public policy We
do not. however. exult over our opDon-
ents; we appeal to them now as we have
from the first, to turn their eyes to the
future and to cooperate with us in an
effort to establish better relations be-
tween employer and employe for the adj
vantage of both.
We forgive them their arrogant refus-
al to deal with us, and in this hour
when they are forced to acknowledge
their inability to operate their mines
without our consent and cooperation,
we hold out the right hand of friend
ship and ask them to join with us IN
securing amicable relations and whole-
some conditions in this region. We for
give them even the false accusations
which they have made against US. They
charged US with being criminals, riot
ton they denounced as "lawlesS and ir-
responsible" They know and did know
that their charges were untrue and
without foundation in fact; they knew
that every officer of the United Mine
Workers of America from the president
down, has constantly urged upon its
membership the imperative need of re-
specting the law; that every man who
commits deed of violence is an enemy
to our cause" has been our watchword.
Despite these admonitions, supported
with all our influence, there have been
few crimes and a number of mlsde-
meanors chargeable to those on strike
But Mr.. President we make the un
qualified declaration that the imported
guardians of law and order, the COM
panieS coal and iron police have COM
mitted, more unprOvOked murders dur
ing this strike than can be charged to
the great army of men who have been
in idleneSs for the past five months. We
have repeatedly and in language not
susceptible of misconstruction, con-
demned transgressions cf law on the
part of those on strike Na challenge
the coal companies to pm 20 one pub
lie utterance on their part in which they
have deprecated acts of violence COM
mitted by their hired guards.
We declare that it was unfair and un-
manly for the coal road presidents to
insult US while we We're your guests and
charge our organiza ton with response
bility for acts of laWleSSneSs during the
strike 1t would be just as logical to
charge the American army in the Phil
ippines with being an army of murder
ers, torturers and robbers because
few crimes were committed by soldiers
there. Until the millennium, there will
be crimes in every community and hu-
man nature is the same. no better and
no worse, among the half million people
dependent upon US in the coal fields. as
it is everywhere in our country.
The DretenSe of the operators that
they were una BILE to produce coal be-
cause intimidation kept from work men
who were willing to work. has been
proven false by the fact that the protec-
tion which they demanded has decreas-
ed rather than increased the number
of men mining coal A hundred thous-
and troops could not have enabled tha
operators to start their mines.
for the simple reason that the
men who work them are members
of the United Mine Workers of America,
men who We're determined to land to
the last for their right to organize and
through organization to demand better
wages and improved conditions Of M
ployment. Deprivation, misrepresenta-
ton and troops together were not sLifi-
cient to drive them into surrender. They
stood shoulder to the last.