New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-06
4 WORKINGMAN ON STRIKES.
THE UNLAWFUL ASSUMPTION BY LABOR
UNIONS OF AUTHORITY OVER
THE PUBLIC.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you please give space In your columns
for statement of facts that so far, in strikes
and labor disputes between organized labor and
capitalists, have not been given the prominence
that they should have?
First-Our principle system OF government
cannot permit organization within the limits of
the United States which assumes to exercise the
prerogatives of either national or State govern
ment by assumption of authority and the exer-
else of that assumed authority in ways and methods
hitherto tolerated by the people because Of SEN
uent OF sympathy for labor in it's contention with
capital If any time within the last thirty years
the President o. the United States. a Governor
of any State. or judge of any court within the
bounds OF the United States had issued an order
that all employees of the Carnegie Steel Company
should quit work on a certain date. what a howl
OF Indignation would have been heard from one end
of the country to the other. There no epithets
in the English language which would have been too
vile to bestow on the constituted officers of
government il they had assumed to exercise such
arbitrary power.
second-Can citizen of the United States wheth-
such by birth naturalization forswear his
rights Of citizenship by becoming member Of an
organization which requires him TO be the sub
ject and do the will OF one man, whom he must
obey when ordered to do so? The right assemble
is granted. The right 10 organize is also granted.
Different religious organizations fraternal soci
cites rightly tolerated, but none Of these pre-
sumo to exercise powers equal superior to those
delegated to the regularly constituted authorities.
The strike in the anthracite coal mining region
of Pennsylvania under the leadership of Mr..
Mitchell presents conditions that seemingly
waking the people up and causing the masses TO
inquire where In the language of Davy
Crockett. who is the government" President
Roosevelt Governor Stone Of Pennsylvania.
is IT Mr.. Mitchell? The government must be Mr..
Mitchell, for neither the President Governor
Stone would dare to do what Mr.. Mitchell has al
ready done.
Do the Eastern people understand Mr.. Mitchers
policy? Do they believe him be sincere in
dering the strike for the especial benefit of the
men engaged in mining anthracite coal? He may be
sincere and he may not. He is president Of the
United Mine Workers of America. The bituminous
miners and operators nave been working together
two years under agreement for year. The
agreement for another year entered into last
April for the year 1902. There are ten thousand
unorganized miners In the Irwin district. Pres-
dent Dolan, OF the Pittsburg district, has endeaV
ored TO enroll these ten thousand in his
ganzation but has not been successful in doing
The men mining in the vicinity of Irwin Penn.
for the Westmoreand and Pennsylvania Gas Coal
Company. have had some solid experience gained
by strikes personally and by sympathy. to their
injury. Hence, they choose to deal with their en-
blowers without outside help The result is har-
mony and prosperity. The Westmoreland and
Pennsylvania Gas Coal Company have no stores.
They pay their men twice a month in cash. The
ordinary miner draws $40 every two weeks; the ex-
pert miner draws SO every two weeks. The i'm
portant fact should not escape the notice of the
ruhc II doesn't concern the employers, when
coal is mined by the ton, whether fifty mine
a hundred tons twenty, men do II.
President Mitchell doubt felt that he must
Al Something for the miners for the liberal salary
thew nav him There being practically nothing of
moment for him to do in the West, he went East
Ind the result everybody knows Now Mr.. Mitchell
ISSUES a proclamation calling for a convention TO
assemble in indianapolis to determine whether to
cali out all the bituminous miners in a sympa-
tbetic strike in order force the anthracite
ators 10 recognize their union 1t is not question
of nav i'm the anthracite region, but one OF Sent-
ment only. Suppose Mr.; Mitchell Is anthorized by
and they obey the CALI IT will affect the operators
who mine anthracite coal just as Huch as tr;TyinS
Ia wet a duck by pouring water on It's back. Who
viii suffer? Millions OF people. and the poor people
esnecaiIy robbed of fuel and of employment, for
what purpose? Simply 10 crafty within OF man
,sto beIeyes he should render some equivalent Tor
the salary OF 81. 500 a year and expenses paid Is
this man Mitchell worthy the renown ne is gam
ing? Is it the part OF an honorable man 70 stn as+
gest that an organization of men who nave 1nst
Succeeded in their efforts 10 better their condt3a
financially and aid in the general prosperity OF me
Country shall repudiate a solemn contract anu
forfeit the regard OF the public and destroy the
organizaton2 rrn;on man forget
Unionism is running mad, Union men toise 81
strike also and they will do so u uhqnlsh IIsis.s
that nubIc business must all be done by rev or
ganlzed men and women and al Whatever piiee