New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-20
LETTERS To THE EDITOR,
AZ ADMIRING ACCOUNT OF MR. BROOKS :
LECTURE.

CONCERNING THE MINERS UNION.
An ADMIR1NG ACCOUNT OF MR.. RRooKs's
LECTURE
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; l note by my Tribune of yesterday that
Bishop Potter in his late lecture Detroit, holds
that legislation will not prevent trouble between
capital and labor. and that the problem is entirely
an ethical question. to be solved by the cultiva-
ton of a conciliatory spirit both sides. think
that legislation and politics in its broadcast and
best sense as well as governmental oversight has
very much to do with the solving of the problem,
and along this line I ask some space 10 give an
abstract of a lecture that heard lately
Few men have studied social and industrial ques
tons as thoroughly as has John Graham Brooks,
of Cambridge. and his lecture Saturday before
the League for Political Education upon the Coal
Strike" such vigorous and lucid analysis of
the situation that it is well worth referring to for
the benefit Of every earnest reader of The Tribune
After referring to his having studied the coal in
dustry for sixteen years and to his days spent In
the mining districts sitting and collating evidence
until he tired. he said he sympathized deeply
with both employer and employe. for they were
both meeting with appalling difficulties at every
turn. The present wage system is too inelastic'
and unmanageable, he declared and must be modi-
fed-must, in fact. be educated-and the trade
unions must learn TO cooperate with capitalists and
employers to bring about better state of affairs.
There must be conscious regulation and some
fairer understanding between the eighteen warning
Municipalities which the mine owners have so selfish
" brought into this region to exploit labor.
Amid all the lies for and against both employer
and employee some facts stand out clear and def
mite. Contracts have been broken on both sides, but
many of those made years ago by individual wage
earners have proved Instantaneous by greatly
changed conditions, and not now practically
useful The troops did not cause the return ofsthe
men to the mines. but often, the contrary.
caused non-union men "scabs.' 10 drop their
tools and join with the strikers.
The stories of killing by the strikers grossly
exaggerated as was shown in the examination in
detail 105 cases Out of twenty-one deaths only
four could in any way be traced 10 striking miners
as the cause of the same Absenteeism and fnanc-
ing in Wall Street OF coal and railroad stocks are
two of the causes Of the troublein fact. as to all
such things no will tell US the whole
truth. Every means has been used TO keep wages
down. and under the specious plea Of protection Of
home industries a wrong has been committed
against long suffering class Of i'll paid laborers
Then. too. there is the surplus thirty thousand
laborers. and continuous employment lasting only
1Sg $40 days in the year Surely" said the speak
this is all a long and dismal story Of exploit
ing human weakness"
There IS also to be considered the whole miserable
list Of petty tricks such 70 per cent profit on pow
who guess at the amount OF slate and often wrong
The bosses told the speaker they knew the system
was wrong. but knew no remedy for the same. And
then, how many have to work twelve hours day,
when six hours is all that should be required OF
them?
But the miners have all learned new lessons IN
der this shadow side OF life and their organiza lions
nave learned that me Puonc WI! not sustain mem
ercise despoticaIy their power over the on-union
tics in its largest sense has come into the indus
trial life OF this great mining region. Inc King
America this factor and recognize its potency,
for il is shaking TO their foundaJ ons our Old Idois
The nOu-union man who won't strike. Ike the
in time 10 ioin the union. and then. with some
proper system Of Incorporation and responsibility
ma" learn how 10 aid in solving very serious
Nj Brooks spoke very seriously when referring TO
acts OF boycotting and cruelty, ana declared
armed forces Of the Union to accomplish It: end
yet on the other hand no sma 35 L OF Iie
fact such persecution would only make the unions
need only better education and administration: IN
the last eighteen months they have doubled thelF
cate antagonisns and enjoin cooperation the joint
agreement system viii prevail and peace VII some
a case where the right OF the employer 10 discharge
inconpetent workrEen was vigorously sustained by
the council OF certain union and the president
employer beat of the member OF his own union -
This TALES well With another HStTat9n OK lar t5
strikers, certain rich capitaI,stc employers known
10 Mr. Brooks had subscribed each week thousands
Of dollars to the fund. because as they SAID tney
were bound see fair play. Thus 1t is pam
And they Will in all probability. If well handled
have little space or need OF the SOCIALIST aEtator
ness ana luGqI o. -iaIs ~ horn employer and en-
nporfance Of INCORPORATING the trade unions and
papneaied to ali his hearers take them at their
power 10 bring about between Sap!Jailst ana ~a5e +
is their duty to themselves. the government and
''f re wRriter Would like to say word to his
own views about the union man. and the greatest
sufferer Of all the honest maR 9q want
Of N sRsCYY ri; NO Nov Il, 1902,