The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-05
ARBITRATION REFUSED.

On the same day that LABOR COM
missioner Wright makes his report to
President Roosevelt, recommending,
first, a committee of conciliation; sec
ond:. reduction Of hours of labor to
nine a day; and third, an increase of
pay 10 per cent, President Baer, of the
Reading coal carrying company,
speaks for the coal proprietors, declin-
ing all of the above propositions and
for the second time refusing to arbi-
trate strike differences.
President Baer addresses his remarks
to United States Senators Quay and
Penrose, of Pennsylvania, and the pro-
found and impartial statesman, Mr..
Quay, Immediately declares to the press
that he has made a thorough investiga-
ton of all sides of the question and
that nothing can be accomplished" in
the direction of arbitration.
you see, senators, that none of these
things can be the subject of arbitra-
tion;" and they saw. United States La
Dor Commissioner Wright, on the 9TH
er hand, thought that all of "these
things" could be the subject of arbi-
tration; and that is the view of the
average layman.
The first reason named by the Read
ing magnate for refusing arbitration is
this "You cannot arbitrate a question
of wages when an increase will destroy
the business and decrease will be
unacceptable to the workingman."
But if the anthracite proprietors can
prove to the public that they are pro-
ducing coal on so narrow a margin of
profit that they cannot afford a 10 per
cent wage raise in what is generally
considered about the poorest paid labor
in the country, why not accept the OPP
portunity to produce the facts? 1t is
because not only the workmen, but the
public, put no faith in this statement
of facts, that the demand of the work.
ingmen for a 10 per cent increase is
sustained by public sentiment.
The coal proprietors' second reason
is: 1--WE cannot arbitrate question as
to whether mining operations and bust
ness generally shall be managed under
the common sense rule Of law and
equity, by the owners and the servants
they have selected, or by a labor or
ganization." This is somewhat vague.
If President Baer has common sense
rule of law and equity that will APP
ply to the issues involved, let the
board of arbitration have it for the
settlement of differences. The ques-
tion of whether the labor organizations
shall operate the mines land business
generally is not involved.
The third reason named is not so
bitrate the right to protect your prop
erty and your workmen from the mob
rule of labor organizations, who boldly
proclaim purpose to destroy property
and endeavor to make their proclama-
ton effective by killing and injuring
their fellow workmen who refuse to
join in their lawlessness."
This is not in harmony with the
to mob rule. Individuals outside of the
union organization have committed
acts of violence in the attempt to Sc
cure justice by a resort to force. But
the union organizations have depre-
Gated all resorts to force and have pc
titioned for arbitration in order to
avoid the resort to force. Those who
refuse to submit the differences to
peaceful arbitration before an impair
tial jury, are the ones upon whom rests
the first and original responsibility for
acts of violence.
Commissioner Wright holds that the
issues acknowledgements of pay, de-
crease of hours, the method of ascer-
tanning product of miners and the ques-
ton of recognizing the Miners union
are proper subjects for investigation
and arbitration. For example, as to
the question of a 10 per cent increase
in the pay Of workmen, Commissioner
Wright is of the opinion that the prices
of coal and also of the necessaries Of
life are justification for the wage in
crease. If President Baer has at his
command facts different from those
produced by the labor Commissioners, he
should by all means bring them forth
and lay them before an impartial board
of arbitration for the purpose of Sc
curing settlement of differences.