The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-09
FINDS The STRIKE
KNOTTY PROBLEM
Result of Carroll D. Wright's
Investigation.
ROOSEVELT CANNOT ACT
The Commissioner of Labor Makes
Suggestions.
wI,HIS TO Be SAID ON BOTH SIDES
fills Suggestions Are Followed The Goa
gerio08 May be Governed in Accordance
With Higher Moral, Principles
Than Now Prevail.
sEv the Associated Press

Err-.r. Commissioner OF Labor, was
.--ratoi by the President in June last
fl. Investigate and report to him, the,
..rr-.- and conditions accompanying the
,r.-.ns controversy between the Penn
..Man.a anthracite coal operators ana
r9s. miners. Twelve days later Mr..
v~.rHr submitted his findings to the
President.
After carefully going over the report
-r. President submitted it to the httor-
rv-GuneraI, who, after giving it fun
anr careful consideration reports that
III. executive has no power whatever to
.-.E.. ri. on in the matter. The report ac-
~lrEu-IE is made public for the infor-
ua-.ou Of the people. Mr.. Wright con-
f.l.I the Investigation in New York,
hn- represented in the coal regions by
aa Experienced gentleman, who, he
e-af.s. had studied the conditions in the
raI regions many times, and who under
t-aa 10 make the necessary inquiries
"~.ra-.ra to the present strike.
Mr. Wright says that he knows Of no
strike that has presented so many vary
tr conditions, conflicting views and ir-
rttattu- complaints. The present strike,
@# says. tros its root in the settlement
If the strike Of 1900, when the advance
smarEad ly the miners was conceded.
Since that time there have been increas-
al constituencies and more intense irri-
rs.t0u than during the previous twenty
i've years.
Commissioner Wright says:
Nearly all the operators, SO far as
~l.r8aI. have no confidence in the abil-
5v IF the miners union to control its own
members to any such degree as to assist
ii maintaining proper discipline. Here
is sharp conflict, and one which reaches
Fl. the very essence of the irritating con-
6U.oas that now attend anthracite coal
aiming.
Some Of the operators do not hest
..-- TO say. and it is believed that this
statement is favorably regarded by some
f. la. union officers, that no great prog
.-s will be made towards a more peace
i'll condition in the mining regions until
Chr "ullacitc miners have a union of
.. r .#n. its autonomy in~dividualized
.el not complicated with that of the bit
luminous coal miners.
"Al the operators whom I met dis
gal~ej distinctly that they had any an
Tag o.sm 10 labor unions as such. They
DO object. and most seriously, to some
of the methods adopted by the unions,
ana they feel that when asked to make
contracts with the unions, the latter
should put themselves in a position to
e.. uaauniarily responsible for carrying
.t su.b Contracts"
Hr. Wright concludes his report as
follows.
aleh evidence has been offered to
.-" th" general condition of miners,
complaints and grievances. and the
.."I-..n.- and grievances of the opera
".' IT IS very clearly shown by the
nor that the miners nave don
"H"'H'uG i'm the way of securing dis
.|-..". although they have disappointed
presidents in such attempts. The
.."r- feel that the corporations, when
E.'"so 10 recognize the right of the
TO represent them in adjusting
@ difference, cannot deny hat the Of
have the power to dccide whether
H"t tha employees shall strike. They
also static that if the operators will make
. "-". lfuont With them, they Will carry
far as it lies in their power
-' 800. int that without an agreement
.r" all the time quibbling as to
... nu5 under which miners shall
reported 10 ne by reputable par
"-y have no interest in the mining
one way or the other, that the
.."nlty lies in the lack of organi-
"". This is shown by the existence
-" PRACTICES in the management OF
1Insa which appear to be unWiSe,
ar! calculated to work hardship.
#Fn very prosperous miners IN the
'"-.on. and Of course there is also,
every Industry, great destitutlon.
"-" problem is an extremely COM
.. and involves many practices
.' ho"n built up through long
'#r mine owners too often nave
'. ."" avcrage miner as unrcaSoh-
'| likely to be unruly when occa-
'I'I The miner has come TO re-
.." average owner as greedy and
' .o anything which Will take ad-
OF him. Long continued condi-
" this basis of suspicion make
." lion ono Of great difficulty.
.".lj seem reasonable that if tho
".It be sure of steady work, or
...l" work. they could well afford,
'0 take less wages, or even to
ON the present basis Of pay
insisted by many that eight
'ay for six days in the week at
than they are now receiving
""#n the miners as prosperous Il
r "' "orEmcn as can be found in the
.ta'ns.
..".nt makes the following aug-
".."h he says seem reasonable
.."' tho anthracite employees should
"H anthracite coal miners
". |# autonomy to be Independent
FL ."'"t Ninc-Workers Of America.
"Hton might. of course, be al
- ""h the United Minc-Workcr5
. EWeTIcan Federation of labor,
conduct Of all the affairs re
'h" anthracite coal regions tho
+ " #h"nld preserve its own au-
."i le Immediately responsible
cement.
."7. considering all the facts rela-