The Washington times., 1902-10-04
SAYS RECORDS SHOW
PURPOSE OF UNION
David Wilcox, of the D. & II. Road,
Reviews Strike and Position of
the Miners.

Vice President David Wilcox. of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad, sub
mitted the following to the President
Mr.. President: The United Mine
Workers of America is an association
composed of large number of miners
and laborers engaged throughout the
country in mining anthracite and
bituminous coal. and employed by the
owners of the mines.
"It has divided the whole country into
various districts, each of which is rep
resented by so-called president. and
embraces local unions. and it seeks TO
compel everyone engaged in the indus
try to join the organization.
1.-THE affairs of the association are
managed by an executive committee
having its headquarters at Indianapolis
and BY conventions called from time to
time representing the entire organiza
tion. The object and practice of the
association are SO far as possible to
regulate the supply of labor engaged In
the occupation of coal mining through
out the country and the terms OF EN-
ployment thereof.
One Central Body.
'It thus consists of one central or
eanization which restrains and controls
the production of fuel everywhere
throughout the country and monopolizes
the labor engaged therein. These are
its purposes and results. Its ultimate
object is to control the entire fuel sup
ply of the country.
"At this hearing 1t is represented by
one person, while six persons represent
but a part of the production OF anthra-
cite coal 1t is, therefore, the most eX-
tensive combination and monopoly which
the country has ever known.
1T habitually enforces its orders and
directions by whatever means may be
most effectual. including strikes. boy
colts, picketing, besetting. and the like
not confined to its members alone, but
in which ere compelled to join as far as
possible all other persons similarly EN-
ployed. It's violent methods have al
ready received the condemnation Of the
circuit court of the United States.
"In accordance with these objects
last May the United Mine Workers or
dered a strike in the anthracite coal
region, which extended to all the work
ings therein. Since that time 1t hai
been so far as possible forcing all per-
sons who are willing to work to cease
atn n N
more miners who had returned to work
having been formerly connected with
the Mine Workers Association. have
been murdered by those acting in sym
pathy with the strike.
Restraint of Trade.
These facts show that the Mine
Workers Association is not within the
rules regarding ordinary local labor or
ganizatiOns. On the contrary, the as
sociation and all of its members consti-
tute combination or conspiracy no,
straint of trade and commerce among
the several States and also an attemp,
to monopolize the labor necessary IL
supplying coal found In one State to thu
markets OF other States, and thus I,
monopolize this part OF the commerct
among the several States.
"The action had by said United Min'
Workers has greatly injured the inter
state business originating in the an
thracite coal fields. The courts have
already many times held that such :
combination is unlawful within the ac,
OF Congress OF. July 2, 1890, passed foi
the purpose of preventing restraints o
interstate commerce. and known as The
Sherman act
I'm addition the circuit court of th'
United States for the western distric
of Virginia. upon March 25 last. heIt
that this identical United Mine Work
ers' Association was Illegal. The cas-
comes clearly within the Debs case