The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-19
how OPERATORS LOOK AT IT.
WHY THEY REGARD THE MN
Frs STRIkE As NENACING.
The, say Their Desire IL 10 Have Con.
'ro,ers Passed Upon by Abiest Men
Possible Principles That Are vital
10 Laws and Institutions at stake

Possible - Principles That Are vital
10 Laws and Institutions at stake
4 gentleman Intimately connected with
one Of the principal n'hractc companies.
ard familiar with the recent negotat ions
resulting in the proposition made to refer
the strike issues 10 commission. gives
tho following az the reasons which sctuated
thc operators 10 decided upon the course
they finally followed:
The operators. in conserving TO submit
To- commission the questions growing
out 81 the present miners strike, were in.
f'uenoed 10 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 sit,iation--'hey were not
in doubt. either, ~ to the final outcome
of tho presen, struggle IL prosecuted TO =
conclusion bu, they. in common with all
large employers of other Glasses Of work
men, we're deeply Interested and con-
cernci over tho evident spirit of agitation
and unrest which pervades the labor ele.
nent of our people. They were impressed
particularly with some features Of the
preser, movement as being more serious
and menacing than any previous ono in
the hist ory Of our country.
lhpOI, IIopdkduuh pt,eH
inaugurated and is being actively pro.
mot I'd which embraces every class of
labor in every field Of industrial activity
throughout the country.
The cardinal principle on which this
movement is founded is that none but
union workingmen shall be allowed TO work
in this country. and a workman who is
not a union man, with his family. 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 such organization is
federated with many, IL not all, the others
with the same well-defned purposes in
view. These ostensibly are to increase
wages, decrease the hours Of work and
improve the general condition Of the worker
In reality the following objects are
sought for and being accomplished. the
entire power and influence of unonism
being eAerted to this end: IL reduce the
output and impair the Efficiency Of the
good workman; TO stite his amb' ton and
destroy his individuality and indept rdence;
10 raise the wages of the poor, indi erent,
slothful workman 20 the same basis as
that Of the good one, regardless of whethe
his skill and ability entitle him thereto
or not. the results being that the energy
and efficiency Of both classes are reduced
to "A higher one.
The apostles Of this movement. following
the example of those OF the church some
centuries ago, have apparently adopted as
their motto, The union can do no wrong
or Anything done in the name Of labor
Is right
Il nc well-known occurrences in the an
thracite region since the present strike
! began prove Conclusively the fore going 70
be the creed Of this modern faith. and the
10 nd n i,1tr gtt lie laoI and
OF all those who actively sympathize or
who are federated with il are In exact accord
Herewith.
Some men in high position and Of great
Influence others Of unquestioned intelli-
gence and undoubted integrity, and still
| Others of marked ,hrewdness, but politically
ambitious, have been from one motive or
| another. and still are, giving the leaders
OF this movement great encouragement
and standing generally before our people
that has seriously inisled some OF our best
and wisest men.
"Realizing the grave and threatening
features Of this movement and its evident
tendency and with the earnest desire and
hope that not only should a sett cement
Of the pending coal strike be accomplished
thereby, but, Of infinitely greater and wider
importance, that some rulings be made
and principles evolved and established
that shall govern the organization and
administration Of trade unions throughout
our country, the representatv OF the
anthracite coal companies. after much
careful thought prepared the address
which was submitted to President Roose-
welt. embodied IN which were certain sug-
| gestions as To the type and caliber Of men
who, III heir opinion, should constitute
| tho commission 10 pass upon the merits
Of the present controversy. and also the
| much more mornentou Gus quest ions referred
TO above, the proper solution of which il
of the supromest importance TO the future
best interests Of this entire country. That
they. or any uf them, in framing this ad-
dress. or hat Mr.. Morgan, acting for them
in presenting !, TO the President. sought 10
take advantage of the poor miners by try
ing to pack the commission or dictate who
the members Of il should be. a. has been
intimated by certain parties and news
papers, Is too utterly absurd 10 be dignified
by denial.
Their sole desire and purpose was and is
10 have this whole CONTROVERSY. and every
thing leading up 20 and growing out Of il
submitted 10 and passed upon by body of
the ablc~t. brariest. best Uniformed men
th could b. selected from our people by
the President Of the United States, 10 the
end and with the express object of having
II raised above politics, personal ambition
or gre"d. prejudice cr malice ~ any kind,
ard placed on the highest possible plane
The gentlemen representing the an
lhrarite coal-mining interests earnestly
hope that the Commission appointed will
handle the whole subject and all the que
ions collateral to il, on the broad, patriotic
lines indi aed above, and in doing 80 will
rca'tirm the great. enduring principles of
Our laws and ns'itutipns a. respects the
rights Of persons and property and the
duties OF citizenship, as being those which
shall in future govern the trade-union cr-
tration Of their affairs as they must and
will Govern the notion of all good plt lions