The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-12
SOME LABOR PROBLEMS.

SOME LABOR PROBLEMS.
Tho correspondence between the repre-
sentatives OF United Mine Workers
and the coal operators OF tho anthracite
regions Of Pennsylvania, which was
printed in our news columns yesterday,
contains several items OF interest. and
we say In all sincerity, of grave impor-
tance to organized labor in the United
States
IN the letter OF President Baer, Of the
Reading Company, dated February 10,
1902 this significant statement Is made:
your organizations have no power to
enforce their DEGREES and thereby insure
discipline, and we have no power to main
tain discipline except the power to dis
charge. A careful analysis OF the results
of last years operations shows that the
efficiency of our mines has decreased l.
100000 tons, because the contract miners
have worked only l-2 to hours a day.
with no disposition to interfere with
labor Organizations in all honest efforts
to better the welfare and condition of
the working classes, we respectfully de-
cline TO join In. any conference for the
formation OF a wage scale for the next
gear
President Thomas. OF the Erie, in his
letter. says that SO far the apparent
effect OF this labor organization has
been that at no time during the last TWEEN
ty years has greater spirit Of unrest
and agitation prevailed among the an
thracite miners than has existed during
the past year That, Notwithstanding the
advance in wages and so on. the depre-
citation in the quantity of work produced
per man has amounted to about IL per
cent. He further declares that from April
TO October there have been no less than
1o2 Interruptions of work, 'occasioned by
unwarranted demands and agitation by
members of the union, resulting in a loss
of over nine hundred days work and
pver GO0.00O tons of Production
This is not a matter Of sentiment,
but matter of business from the stand
point of the operators. When they make
contracts they expect to receive some
benefit and as a business proposition
they are not disposed to renew a contract
with an organization, when, in their opin-
Son. the former contract was unsatisfac-
tory and improbable. In entering into
an agreement with the association of
miners. the operators desire to have peace
and to have their operations go on with
out turmoil and friction. But they as
Eert that there was not peace, but that
there was disturbance, which the heads
OF the organization could not control. and
that SO far from increasing the output
1t was decreased.
We do not know the facts in this case.
The operators naturally give their side
and put their best foot foremost, as the
saying goes. But it is quite apparent that
their contract with the union was not
satisfactory, and that is matter for all
labor organizations seriously to consider.
The way for labor organization to sue
coed is to conduct its affairs upon purely
business principles, to stand honestly by
all agreements made and to give employ
ers of their men q satisfactory service
This done labor unions will become popu-
lar and business corporations will be
glad to deal with them Therefore, we
have urged that the best possible thing
labor organiza tons could do for them
selves would be to have their orgaaiza-
lions duly incorporated and to hold them
selves responsible In law for their contract
agreements and for all the acts of their
men.
4 Another thing. In the proposition SUBJ
United by the operators, it was condi-
fioned that there should be no deteriora-
tion in the quantity or the quality of the
work done by the miners. and that there
Should be 40 effort to restrict the In
dividual exertions of men, who, working
by the ton or car, might, for reasons
satisfactory to themselves and their en-
hloyers. produce such quantity of work
as they might desire.
Here is another question of serious
consideration. Manifestly, the DISPOSE
Iion Of some labor unions at least is to
restrict the energies Of their men and to
prevent one of their members or any
number OF their members, from doing
more than certain amount Of work in
q given time. That is the rule that
was adopted years ago by the labor
unions of England. and to that fact more
than to any other. it is argued by stu
dents OF the situation, is due the de-
xerioration in British trade. But whether
that be true of not. this method Of re-
strictioa is contrary to the spirit of
American independence. The aim and
tnevitable result of such a system is to
bring all men down to the deal level of
mediocrity. to prevent the man of tai
ent and energy from outstripping his
neighbor who is less talented or less en-
ergetic, or both. The effect of it is
to put handicap upon American free
men and to take away from them the
stimulus to action. Adopt that system
in the world at large and you largely de-
stroy human endeayor and ambition. Let
that system operate in this country. and
We shall go from bad to worse until our
ontire society falls into condition of
dry rot. A man lie fairly entitled in this