Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-06-02
Railroads in the Coal Strike


The coming week sees the first
serious step in the anthracite strike
The suspension of labor in the mines
began peacefully. 1t passed into a
strike without collision. Monday the
engineers and pumpmen will either go
out, remain, breaking with the union
or be replaced by other labor. Each of
them has right to do as he chooses.
Each man must be protected in his
choice. But with every effort grave
peril to the peace will exist at this juno
ture.
Great loss has already been inflicted
on operators and miners, and most of
all on the public, which is paying the
bills and has no voice in the controversy.
Evidence accumulates that many indi-
vidual operators would prefer some con
cessions to prolonged controversy. The
railroads stand in the way. They con-
troll all transportation. Directly or
indirectly they own or mine an over
whelming share of the collieries. The
railroads are the decisive factor in this
strike.
railroad is public corporation. 1t
is given public privileges. 1t is sub
ject to public duties. Its very existence
depends on the exercise of the right of
eminent domain. 1t has special powers
TO guard its property and track. 1t is
under special obligations to keep the
public peace. A private mine owner,
who has bought, paid and owns mi ne,
may do as he will with his own. A rail-
road cannot. AS a common carrier it is
subject to various obligations. AS cor
poration it bears others. Its managers
are under serious public responsibilities
They have no right in law or in morals
to act on public issues as private owners
might.
Railroad managers are bound to con.
slider these public relations. Their sole
duty is not to their stockholders and
bondholders. They owe duty to the
state. In their general policy, in the
wages they pay, in the rates they
charge, In their precautions against ac-
cident, all men recognize that railroad
managers must consider these dual re-
latons.
OF all men, they cannot afford to take
an uncompromising, unyieding position.
AT the present juncture the anthracite
railroad managers must not only be
right but they must seem to be right.
They inflct most serious damage on
the properties they control and are un-
faithful to grave public responsibilities
il they leave the impression that they
are more anxious to have their own
way than to do right. They are bound
to consider most carefully il there is not
some concession which will prevent col
lision. If there is it should be granted.
If there is not it is not enough to refuse
any concession. They must make it
clear to the public that concessions can
not be granted.
III the statements and proposals made
by the miners union have been answer
ed by tho representatives OF the rail
roads-and they cannot have been un-
nswered-these answers should be pub
lished. If they are not published, the
public has right to be Informed as to
the position of the railroads. A railroad
is not private property. 1t is a Joint
public and private trust, both for its
owners, who provide the capital, and
the state, which confers special powers.
Nothing could be more fatal to all the
interests concerned than the general
impression that the anthracite railroad
managers precipitated collision by an
obstinate refusal to make any conces-
sion, however small