The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-07
An Uniustifable Strike.

The action Of the Executive Board OF
the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea District OF. Alabama, in ordering a
suspension of work at the Pratt Mines
Division OF the tennessee Coal, Iron 81
Railroad Company is not Justiha PIE.
Such a strike is a violation OF the con-
tract between the operators and the
miners, and Will not receive the moral
support of the public, without which no
strike can hope to WIN.
The contract between the mlne WORK
ers and the operators does not require
the latter to make collections such as
the miners are now seeking Aoi ei1e
benefit of the anthracite strikers, nor
did Il ever contemplate such thing.
The company, under the terms OF the
contract. agrees TO collect certain dues
from the miners for the actual NAM
tenance# of the local miners unions and
for the expense Of the representatives
of said unions, but when the contract
was drawn up and signed neither party
TO it intended that the company slioulo
withhold assessments from the "ases
of miners against the objection OF the
individuals assessed for purely pe-
nevolent cause. The company has no
legal Or moral right to make such
collections without the consent OF each
individual miner and 1t is uiieds oiis1oie
to expect it to do SO.
There is no difference between me ne
miners and the operators with reiel-
ence to any local question. D. NC eiieii {
trouble grows out Of a.. effort to COM
,,aI those miners who object to con-
t,.;h,,tine TO the Pennsylvania strikers
~ do co This is a matter between the
,.o;,,,.,r.s themselye and should be settled
Nv, 4baro
~ 81 unjust to hold the operating COM
5nanv responsible for any sasreements
within the miners union, and It VS.
equally unfair to seek to make the com
navy do that which it has no legal or
moral right to do. 1t is hardship on
Tho Birmingham district that its indus
trial operatious should be threatened
1;yith PARALYSIS because the miners union
desires to use the operators as medium
through which to enforce discipline IN
their own ranks.
The settlement of the wage question.
in the summer gave promise of another
year Of harmony and prosperity in in
dustrial circles. That this condition is
K, he disturbed by dragging in an outside
question which does not and should not
involve any one but the miners organi-
cation itself, is not only to be regretted
but condemned. The leaders OF the
miners have blundered.5 and unless their
unwise action is rescinded the step
which they have taken may ne; lead to a q.
situation which will not only bring SUI III
fering to themselves and the employing l'l
corporations, but will result in heavy
losses to the business community
There is no occasion for a strike IN
Ala bama, and the wisdom and modera-z
ton which have so often characterized
the councils Of labor organiza tons
should be promptly called into play to
avert a serious and widespread injury to
business operations and a distinct i'm
p,airment Of the prosperity which nov.
blesses alike all classes and q Scondl tons;
The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail y.
road Company has positively and def 4
nitely determined that its position Is
moral, just and legal, and that 1;a it can
not with self-respect recede The The
miners committee should 5rescind its orr 'r..
der to- strike, because that order was.
ill-considered is wrong in principle PIE and: and
breaches solemn Mira ct-1 struains-.
ham News. .5ss.