The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-20
Timely ADVICE 10
Striking Miners
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

"iiE CONVENTION oil NINE WORKERS.
that has been called to act upon the
terms of settlement will be i'll ad-
viscd if it does not simply resolve
upon an immediate return to work, with
out further debate or question, leaving
all disputes and claims to the Just de-
termination of the commissioners ap-
pointed by the president. The victory
that has been won for the miners in this
agreement is 50 great and SO far reaching
that they can well afford to accept it in
a contented and hopeful spirit that will
leave no room for prejudice, resentment
or recrimination. The victory will be of
value to them in proportion to the wis
dom and discretion with which they use
it.
The fact must not be lost sight of that
this settlement has not been reached by
angry contention or intimidation, but by
the insistent public demand, of which the
president was simply the exponent, that
the public needs must be considered. and
that the diSputantS must find peaceful
and orderly way to adjust their relations
to one another without intlictng further
injury upon the country. 1t matters little
which side may be held to have yielded
the most No one doubts the impartialty
or the competence of the chosen tribunal,
and the unrescrved reference to it of the
whole subject at issue is in itself IA far
w
crs could have hoped for when they en-
tered unon this strike.
AS their representative and leader
throughout the controversy, Mr.. Mitchell
has attained n position of extraordinary
responsibility and influence. lie has re-
tanned the confidence of those he repre-
sented. and, generally speaking. and in
spite of obvious mistakes. he has won a
large measure of respect from the public
a la it. SN' fn GOO hn llSt
depend. in the future course of events,
upon his ability to fill this responsible po-
sition. 1t must be said frankly that his
letter to President Roosevelt is a dsap-
pontment Its tone Is not that of the
magnanimous victor; of the leader con-
sciOus of the justice of his cause. 1t is
querulous and contentious, and under
takes to argue the very matters it is pro-
posed 10 leave to arbitration. If it he
said that he is only replying to state
ments of the operators, it must be re-
called not only that two wrongs do not
make a right, but that the matter has
now reached a stage at which all such
dispute OF argument or recrimination
must be excluded if the resort to peaceful
arbitrament is to be fruitful of good re-
suit, Moreover, while nominally ad-
dressed to the president. the letter Is aG-
tually addressed to the Mine Workers,
who need at this lime to be soberly ad-
vised. and not to be stirred into hostility
to their employers.
Whatever may be the final determina-
ton of the presidents commissioners,
which cannot be expected for a very long
time to come, the one essential object
sought is the establishment of harmoni
Gus relations between the owners and
the workers in the mines-relations that
shall be not only mutually profitable, but
mutually agreeable, and based upon mu-
tual confidence. Unless this can he at
tained. no terms of settlement can he
of any avail, 1t is one of the unfortu-
nate results of modern tendencies to inn
pair the direct personal relations that
formerly existed between employers and
the employed. and it may be that these
can never be restored, but the separa-
tion cannot be pushed 10 an extreme
without disaster, 1t would be quite pos
Sible, by constant agitation and organ
lied interference, to make the business
of coal mining so uncertain and annoy
ing that men of liberal disposition would
be driven out of it, preferring to close
their mines rather than continue the
thankless struggle, and the Mine Work.
crs would find themselves without mines
to work in Capital can find other and
more profitable employment than in an
thracite mining, but miners have no other
occupation.
This does not make them helpless. On
the contrary, they have just seen how
the power of public opinion will protect
their interests and insist upon a redress
of their Just grievances. 1t Is as certain
as anything human can be that this trib-
unal will do the fullest Justice to the
workers In the mines, and will deal on
broad and liberal lines with the large
questions Of organization and operation
that will come before Il. If its findings
are to do good, they must he prepared
for in advance by a peaceful resImp.
tion of industry i'm a spirit of harmony
and trust, No tribunal has compulsory
power over the hearts and minds of mer.
but those who are trusted by them and
have influence among them may do much
to lead and guide them Alright, Herein Is
Mr.. Mitchelfs responsibility, in which 1t
is honed that he will not fail. The peo-
pie, acting through the president, have
not interfered i'm support of any mans
authority or plans or theories, but for
the greatest good of the whole commun-
ity and for justice to all What large re-
suits may flow from this interference no
one can foretell. 1t behooves us all
meanwhile to hear ourselves soherly. dis
creetly and hopefully. as loyal Americans
who seek no triumph OF one class over
another but the advancement of all In
a common prosperity.