The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-07
OPERATORS 1t Fault
Mark Hanna Takes Sides
Against Them.
ARE ALMOST CRIMINAL
Says Labor Should Organize
as Well as Capital.

Washington. Nay 6.-One Of the great
est labor striges in the history of the
United States is now threatened If it
takes place something like $1,000 or 10000
men viii leave the anthracite coal mines
in Pennsylvania. This great calamity is
threatened because the owners refuse to
recognize the labor unions of their en-
ployes. They stu insist that they win
deal only with individuals
Senator Hanna. chairman Of the civic
federauo is not here today. having gone
TO Philadelphia to pass Sunday. But be-
fore leaving Washington he spoke in
terms Of indignation, almost anger Of the
attitude OF the operators. He said they
had even refused to recognize the civic
federation in a manner which would en-
able that organization TO bring about
peace.
Although Senator Hanna was not speak
ing for publication, as he is extremely
careful in such matters, he intimated TO
his friends that in his Judgment the at
titude OF the operators was little short
Of criminal. He says the day is past when
any employers can honorably refuse TO
deal with the representatives selected by
their employees. whether organized in a
union or not. Capital claims the right to
organize, to combine; labor has the same
right. Any assertion 10 the contrary be-
longs to a past age and is barbaric. In
this sense the owners OF mines and other
property have not a right to. DO what they
Ike with their own, in Senator Hanna's
opinion. They owe an obligation to So
ciety in general When MIR Hanna left
here yesterday he was much discouraged
over the outlook and feared that a great
strike was impending.
The operators in th anthracite coal re-
gion have persistently refused to recog-
nize the union. During the strike of 1900
they maintained this attitude despite all
the pressure brought TO bear upon them.
In the end they made some concessions
as to wages and conditions. but they did
not recognize the union. President Mitch
ell of the Natioral Coal Miners union
won but an incomplete victory on that
occasion. He secured better terms for
the men, but he did not gain formal rec
ognition Of his organization. He surren-
cered the latter partly because he is a
conservative leader and did not wish to
plunge the anthracite coal region into the
horrors of a protracted struggle and part
~ because he wished 10 strengthen his
lines before bringing the issue to a final
test. At that time a considerable share
of the miners were not organized, and be-
fore venturing on the great battle Mr..
Mitchell wanted a united and well organ
lied army behind him. This. it is claimed.
he now has. Virtually all the miners in
the anthracite field are in the union.
When the writer visited the coal region
in 1870 and carefully investigated the con-
ditions there he found the operators op-
posed to any recognition of the union.
The opinion was then expressed that they
We're not only wrong and standing in their
own light and in enmity to the public in
terests but that they would sooner or
later be forced to admit their error or
see the anthracite region plunged into the
misery of a bitter protracted labor strike.
1t is now feared that this prediction may
soon Ice verified.
If the operators do not relent between
now and tomorrow it IS said to be Presi-
dent Mitchelrs intention 10 submit the
case to the representatives of the local
unions at Scranton and under the prevail
ing conditions a vote 70 strike is consid-
cred probable
The discovery has been made by emil
nent lawyers that the so-called conspiracy
bin which has passed the house is in dan
ger of being declared unconstitutional if
enacted into law 1t seeks to remove
from combinations of labor representa-
tives the ban of the sherman antitrust
law. under which the Debs and like con-
spiracy cases were prosecuted in the fed
cral court. While removing this ban from
labor organizations il leaves it in fuu
force upon such combinations as the
Northern Pacific merger. providing. of
course. that the government can show the
merger was an actual violation Of the
law But the supreme court held in the
case Of the Illinois antitrust law that n
discrimination he tween live stock and
agricultural interests and other CONNER
cial activities was Unconstitutional and it
is feared the court viii sold that discrim-
nation between labor combinations and
other combinations Is also unconsttu-
tionai.
Eminent lawyers TN the senate say that
e the ACT be SO strengthened as 10 remove
the objection Of this discrimination the
sherman antitrust Jaw VIII be knocked
into smithereeus.
II IS further pointed out that under the
terms ~ the biu which -as passed the
house. making il lawful for q number If
men N co what would not be- uulawfu.
Tor one man 70 DO. merger like the
Northern Securities might lie localized.