The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07

is non-recognition of the union proves
to have been unfouaded. The actual
offer of the opera tors was merely Ito
continue the wages existing at the time
of the strike and to take up at each col
liery and adjust any grievance" with
this new condition added-that IF the
employees and employers at any paticu-
lar cOlliery cannot reach a So tiSfactOry
adjustment of any alleged grievance,
it shall be referred to the judges of the
court of common pleas of the district in
which the colliery is situated for final
determination"
This further condition" may seem to
involve concession but it is to be
borne in mind that the operators did not
offer to refer the questions of wages
and shorter hours to the court of COM
mon pleas These issues they elini-
mated from the discussion; and all they
agreed to refer was something vaguely
described as alleged grievances" If
Mr.. Baer had offered to refer all the is
sues of the strike to the court he men
toned, his proposition would have been
as fair as Mr.. MitehelPs. though even
then the public would have preferred
the plan of arbitration by board
named by the president.
Wall Street Journal:
At the outset. some men sided with
the operators, and some sided with the
miners Today that issue has ceased to
be important, as far as the public is
concerned. The public no longer cares
the men win but declares in tones
which both interests would do well to
heed that when a controversy has
reached the point of direct serious in
jury to the community it should be adj
juSted in the interest of the community,
lest a worse thing befall.
Mr.. Baer says the strike will be set
tied by the miners returning to work.
That was very proper statement last
June. Such a statement now is equiv
alent to saying: I'VE propose to win
our fight no matter whether the public
has coal or not" The anthracite COM
panies cannot afford to take this posi-
ton, neither can it be maintained by
Mr. Mitchell. Shall manufactures stop
and men be thrown out of work by
thousands: shall women and children
starve and freeze that the miners union
may obtain recognition?
No. The case is not now operators
against miners, but operators and
miners against the public If this fact
is not realized and a settlement reached
not in the form of victory of one over
the ether. but as deferring by both TO
the public demand Cor an adjustment
which shall permit safety and comfort
both will find that the suffering
public will turn against them blindly a.
first but with determined purpose to
prevent the possibility of such condi
lions hereafter.
Mr.. Baer and Mr. Mitchell may unite
in saving, What are you going to dc
about it2'' The Wisest are not prepared
10 answer tHlS question immediately,
but an answer will be found. il re-
quired. The slave owners of the south
| asked that question, and it was all
| swered after a time. William NJ Tweed
asked it, in the heighth of his power,
and it was answered
The laws of this country have been
framed to give a large degree of cor
pcrate and individual liberty. The peo-
pie have no wish to greatly restrict lib
erty, but if there are to be great com
binatiOns of capital on one side and
great combinations of labor on the other
side and they choose to stand at
deadlock while the community suffer for
the necessities of life it will presently
be demonstrated effectively that when
the people are once reused they still
rule in the United States.
Cincinnati Enquirer:
| There has been a great deal of silly
| talk about what the government can or
might do with the anthracite coal fields
under the right of eminent domain, and
| urfortuna tely theories on this subject
| have gone beyond the irresponsible line
of street corner conversation. and have
taken the form of public expression by
organized bodies.
Then there has been much solemn in
| timation in newspapers, a few of which
| were supposed to be too high in char
| acter and wisdom to engage in such
| nonsense, about what would happen if
| the conference between the president of
| the United States on the one part and
railroad and coal nagnates on the 9TH
er, should not produce happy results