Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-04

The affairs Of the association are managed
by an executive committee having it's head
quarters at indianapolis and by conven-
lions called from time to time represent
Ing, the entire. organization: Tn object
as possible TO regulate the supply of labor
engaged IN the occupation Of coal mining
employment thereof II thus consists OF
one central organization which restraints
and controls the production OF fuel every
lies the labor engaged therein. These
are its purposes and results: It's ultimate
OH't the 6 IN Tonu AZ t ths f%srS sO Il Is iuP Pep,
resented by one person while six persons
represent but a part OF the production OF
anthracite coal. II is, therefore, the most
extensive combination and monopoly which
the country has ever known. II habitually
enforces It's orders and directions by what
ever means may be most e1ectual, includ-
Ing, strikes, boycotts, picketing, besetting
bers alone. but in which are compelled to
Join as far as possible all other persons
similarly employed. lts violent methods
the circuit court of the United States
&Reinecke county against Wood, liz Fed:
Rep. 49,; United States against Weber, ia
gerty, 1s Fed Rep. 510.
Orders a Strike.
In accordance with these objects, last
May the United Mine Workers ordered a
strike IN the anthracite coal region, which
Since that time II has been, so Tar as pos
sible, forcing all persons who are willing
days one or more miners who had re-
turned to work, having been formerly con-
nected, with the Mine Workers association,
have been murdered by those acting in
sympathy with the strike.
These facts show that the Mine Workers
association is not within the rules regarding
ordinary local labor organizations. on
the contrary, the association and all OF
It's members constitu e a combination or
COngniTnnV. not nnIy Mt Fnpnn1nn lau hlt
also in restraint OF trade and
among the several states, and also an at
tempt to monopolize the labor necessary in
supplying coal found in one state to the
markets OF other states, and thus to monop-
olize this part Of the among
United Mine Workers has greatly injured
the interstate business originating in the
anthracite coal fields. The courts have
already many times held that such a COM
bination is unlawful within the act of
congress Of July 2, 1890, passed for the pur-
commerce and known as the sherman
against SeP Cincinnati ii ali c County yep g. r Fed tnP Rep',
Rep, ga; United States against Elliott; g.
against oakes, So Fed. Rep, $40; In re Debs,
g Fed. Rep, 72i; And. 15S; U. s., 56I, 900;
citation, lss United States, $50. S1s, S5sJ
Judge JacksOn's Opinion.
In addition, the circuit court OF the
United States for the western district of
Virginia, upon March Is last. held that
this Identical United Mine Workers assoc
Weber, ia Fed. Rep. 95Ol. The case comes
clearly within the Debs' case. That was
an effort to organize a universal associa-
ton OF railroad employees, covering the
whole country, for the purpose of c%ontroll-
ing Interstate commerce. The government
the injunction was disobeyed, enforced the
same by the use Of the United States army;
This quickly disposed of the matter, and
the action of the government was upheld
"a. And. i5S T. s., So SO@. The true
course for the national government, there
precedent in the Debs case. These con-
sideratlons were called to the attention
Of the president and the attorney general
The anthracite coal companies are maxi
ing every effort 20 mine coal &c rapidly as
possible. They are INSTRUCTED by the fail
ure OF the state authorities to fully pro-
tect those who desire. to work for. them
eminent to enforce the statute under
which the Mine Workers association has
been already held to be Ss illegal isICtlvoj As soon soon
there can be no doubt that the supply of
coal will be ample. The question at pres
citation shall be permitted in this country
by means which are illegal TO decide who
shall be allowed 10 work what shall hal b
| paid. This is contrary to the spirit and
the letter of our laws. If they are en-
forced, such an effort will cease at once.
wants More Protection.
While the United Mine Workers have
began to prevent the production OF coal.
the operators have been actively seeking
to tEai iScr produe shs s s6osti Is anp per are cent h0 OF the the
normal output. This company now has
about 1000 men engaged in the business;
The production Is steadily increasing and
the rate OF increase would have been more
rapid but for the failure of the state and
national governments to protect the life,
work for the operators. and to protect the
operators from the onslaught of this ille-
lie the entire fuel supply of the country.
II the functions OF government In this
ton would be rapid enough to supply all
necessities. Grave as are the matters mem
toned In the presidents memorandum' the
questions fundamentally involved are even
more serious, They are whether freedom
of life and property are TO continue IN
s ace with the will Of combination
and conspiracies which are prohibited by
I the constitution and the statutes and the
faithful employees are TO be delivered to
the destrvcLen which surely awaits them
IN case sss OF Az snuT TRis 0e eO !SS M1he respect MSFs
fully n earnestly urges upon the preSi-
dent the use of his lawful powers in the
| case by one OF his predecessors and which
was sustained by all the courts. II the
national government would now enforce
the law with equal promptness, the strike
would end next week.
Refuses to Arbitrate,
The representative of the United Mine
Workers has now stated that its members
are willing to return to work, and he has
frequently said that he did not demand
| official recognition for the union, notwith-
standing that the Shamokin convention of
March last resolved that the employment
OF nonunion men should he a cause for
striking. The condition of returning to
work which he makes Is that a commits
sion be appointed by the president to In
vestigate existing conditions, and that the
Mine Workers and the operators agree to
abide by its recommendations. The per-
sonnet of such a commission Is uncertain;
its action would be without authority of
law or precedent. and IL would be with
| out knowledge Of the varying conditions
in the different collieries and regions. This
company has no power to commit the well
fare and existence of the property to such
uncertainties. Moreover, as already
pointed out, the Mine Workers is an Illegal
body and has no lawful control over Its
members. This Is show by the fact that
after the settlement of 1900. local strikes
were more numerous than ever, and that Its
representative Is now constantly COUNSEL
ing against violence, while, nevertheless,
| 80 > a =. nd nnIrdprR are of constant OC-