New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-29
COAL STRIKE DISCUSSED.
BISHOP TALBOTiS VIEWS.
1T SHOULD BE STOPPED, REGARDLESS
OF POLITICS-THE MINERS RIGHT
TO ORGANIZE NOT AT STAKE

| To the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir: The coal strike continues Anthracite is
| becoming scarce. and result the price is
steadny advancing. Cold weather is coming on.
| and that which was at first only a serious in
convenience is now public calamity, bringing
| I'm its train suffering and hardship So much
has been written the subject that should
| not presume to refer to it again save In the
hope of removing some misapprehensions which
| have naturally arisen
Inasmuch the entire anthracite region is
| comprised within the limits of my own diocese
/ of Central Pennsylvania. I have necessarily
| been more less familiar with the conditions
which have obtained from the beginning Many
| of my clergy located in the mining towns
and We are feeling keenly the anxiety and dis
| tress which prevail on every hand My sympa-
thies, therefore. strongly enlisted in behalf
| Of the thousands of miners who with their
| families inevitably suffer as a result of months
| passed without wages and any adequate means
| Of support. Whether the miner is right or
wrong. he would be strangely lacking in the in
| stincts of common humanity who could see
what have seen and not be touched with a
| feeling of tenderness and compassion for those
who must endure such hardships But in con-
sidering the whole situation Justice as we'll as
mercy demands that bear in mind certain
facts. In the first place, the striking miners
when no real grievances existed which could
not have been adjusted peacably. 1t is now we'll
known and even admitted by their leaders that
the crux in the whole matter is the recognition
| Of an organization known as the Miners
Union Furthermore, it cannot be denied that
thousands OF the men were opposed to the
strike, and that 1t was carried through the per-
sistent agitation of their paid leaders and walk
| ing delegates, who persuaded the men that vic
! tory would follow. Again. the points at
| issue between the mine owners and their late
employees differentiate this strike from anv other
that has taken place. 1t is true the same is
| sues practically arose two years ago in the
| anthracite region, and the strike was settled by
a certain 10 per cent concession contrary IN the
| operators better judgment, and in response TO
political pressure for political ends. 1t was then
| quite generally felt by the operators that two
weeks more at the furthest would have seen the
men return 10 their work and the question set
| tied probably for years if not finally IF &c
| fact OF history that Mr.. Hanna and not Mr.
Mitchell. settled the strike of 1900 When the
operators yielded to the pressure thus brought
upon them they all felt assured that it was no
settlement. but a truce or temporary cessation
OF hostilities. and that the whole matter would
| have to be fought out again IIenoe +b;. u.i,,a
IS essentially the continuation of that of 1900
"heh president Mckinley was elected
mo one 1afnlilar with the situation can dapv
| that tne great majority of the men would return
'o-uay II the fear and intimidation
0Ouio oe removed The one problem in the coal
regions to-day is adequate and thorouyb nro
tectlon to every man TO exercise his inalienabIe
| right to sell his labor when and where he Ga,
| find a market for it.
On the other hand, the one chief demand made
| ny the strike leaders is that their organization
| be recognized; in other words that the o1ype-
| or the property shall deal, not with the men In
their employ, when difficulties arise but with an
oousl Ie party: Ihls Miners Union is not incor-
Po!ateo ana has no moral financial RESPONSE
Unity. 10 grant this demand for recognition
means that the operators shall no longer man
age their own business, but it shall he in the
tast resort IN the power of an organization TO
WHICH the owners must appeal for consent to
| employ or dismiss even breaker boy or an in
competent or worthless miner. 1t is evident that
no business can be so conducted and that no
| private individual could or would stand such
| dictatiOn for d moment
1t further means that no man can hereafter
work IN the mines unless he belongs to the
union. In other words, it denies to the Ameri-
can citizen the sacred right to sell his labor in
| the open market whenever he can secure his
price. This is a denial of individual liberty TO
the workingman which he ought to be the first
| to resent. ~
But. some one will say, why not refer all these
questions to board of arbitration, chosen by
both sides? Why do the operators refuse SO
reasonable and fair solution of the difficulty
in reply it cannot be too plainly said that the
operators ready and have always been ready
TO arbitrate questions of wages and conditions
| OF labor with their own men; but how can the
| question of whether man has right to con-
| duct his own business be submitted to arbitra-
| ton? For it must be borne in mind that the
main issue is not as to the method of conduct
ing the business as to wages and hours hut
i as TO whether the management shall be in the
hands of those who own the business. For the
operators to surrender this inherent right would
be not only calamity TO all the Industrial in
terests of our country but an infringement of
he and
spirit Of AmericaniSn.
When will the strike end Just as soon as in
this free country and in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, men who desire to work and sup
port their families be protected in the exer-
else of that right. 1t is devoutly to be hoped
that this right may be finally established with
But vigorous measures are necessary. The dig
nifty and majesty of the law should be main
tanned at all hazards. To-day violence perse-
cution, riotng and mob law prevailing I'm
various sections of the coal regions Twenty
four hours ought to put end to this state of
affairs The Commonwealth owes il TO itself
and the country at large to separate this crisis
from all questions of political favor and with
prompt and unhesitating vigor to break I'D this
spirit Of anarchy, if it requires the help of
every lava biding citizen. While Mr.. Mitchell
and his lieutenants among the strike leaders say
they are opposed to violence, no mandatory
proclamation has yet gone out from them and
the evil is growing. Even granting that the
leaders are trying to have the law respected. 1t
is evident that. with turbulent and easily ex-
cited population, when 70 per cent are foreign
ers, ignorant Of our institutions, their power to
repress the spirit of persecution, intimidation
and lawlessness is at best only limited Without
taking sides with the operators miners. the
OF every good man who reverences law and or
der should be given to the maintenance of peace
and the protection of the individual in the
ercise of his God-given rights.
The right, and the duty Of labor to or
ganize for its own protection and the better1nent
of its conditions is not here called in question
I ghar righf oil Ia In RI fe