The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-27
BETTER ARBITRATE

A conference was held yesterday in
Chicago between representatives Of the
National Civic Federation and represent
tatives of the United Mine Work
ers of America, and other unions, at
sorting to arbitration to settle the ques-
tions involved in the strike in the anthra-
cite coal region. 1t is stated that it is
probable another conference of the mine
operators and the National Civic Fedora
tons executive committee will be held
with view Of bringing about; this result.
Meantime the. project of ordering out
the miners of the bituminous region In
order to nationalize the. strike, may be
accomplished, for President Mitchell has
received the assent of four districts to
involve the bituminous miners IN the
anthracite strike and only one more dis
trict's assent is necessary to bring about
the disastrous order, for it will be a dis
astrous order to the miners and dlsas-
trous to the public who will suffer by the
arrest of business
The strike of the anthracite miners did
not go into effect by a unanimous vote OF
the convention. Little over half the
delegates voted for it. 1t evidently was
dtstasteful to large number of miners.
The bituminous miners are generally
bound by contracts with their employers
running a year and they cannot honorably
nullify them. 1t would weaken the con-
fidence of the operators in the honor and
reliability of the unions. The anthra-
cite strike was brought about in very
hesitant manner. There was much dis
cussion and much difference Of opinion
before the convention and at the conven-
ton the proposition to strike was carried
by So all majority only. There was no
enthc siasm. President Mitchell did not
exert himself to secure vote for the
strike. . He is showing himself willing TO
discuss i'arbitration.a. ~ ~
The operators have given no sign OF
changing or modifying their attitude.
They will be chiefly responsible if the
bituminous miners are ordered out.
The latter will be strongly censurable
Tor sympathetic strike. S. 50 -;
An interesting article on the coal situa-
ton may be found in another column Of
this issue The coal output of the coun-
try is so@large1y controlled by few rail-
roads that tits practicable, to fix the out
put and maintain prices. The coal de-
posts of the country are a bounty OF
mankind, and while it may be as le-
Ultimate for private. enterprise to develop
and produce coal as it is for private en- !
terprises to exploit any other Of the
natural resources of the country, the mo-
nopolization Of output and the manipula-
tion of1prices Of this necessity provided
by nature is especially offensive to the
public mind, and undoubtedly some way
will be found by which the public may be
protected from the exactions of the coal
monopoly. Possibly, the president in his
proceedings against combinations may
find cure for this one, which has grown
fat and arrogant. 7.%
The county attorney has decided to dis:
| miss all pending suits against former
i Sheriff Megaarden. This conclusion was
reached after a second failure to secure
jury agreement charges preferred
land the evidence submitted. Mr.. Me-
| garden will, therefore, be required tt
answer no more prosecutions for of1cia
acts which have undoubtedly met the con
demnation Of the public, although the
court juries to whom they were submitted
have been unable to agree that the!
should be made the basis Of legal penalty
DR. Ames says he would not quality i
he should be renominated and reelected
to the. office of mayor. The doctor nee,
? not lose any sleep over that matter
There is no danger that either fate viii
befall him. He has made his previous
record good and consistent--he has mad
1t impossible for him to succeed himself
- -------- -
The Canadian West Is getting one c1as
of American settlers that leave behins
them few regrets in this country. Il
their eagerness to get settlers the Ca