The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-24
THE QUESTION OF UNloNIzATIoN
The Real Problem with Which the Com
mission Must Deal.

The Real Problem with Which the Com
mission Must Deal.
Chicago, Oct. 24.-walter wellrnan, in
a Washington special to the Record-Her-
aid, says:
A marked difference Of opinion has
arisen as to the scope Of the commissions
powers.
The operators, or some Of them, hold
that the commission must condne its In
vestigations and report strictly to uues-
lions at issue between each company and
it's employees; in other words to the ques.
ton OF wages and methods OF measuring
the work done.
Mr.. Mitchell and others claim that the
commission should go into the larger;
broader and vastly more important ques-
ton OF the relations which should exist
between the employees and the companies;
whether or not the union should be rec
ognized.
II only the question Of wages and the
method Of measuring the work be deter
mined, the problem Of whether or not the
union is to be recognized will remain as
a. disturbing factor. Until that Is settled
there can be no permanent peace IN the
anthracite field.
It is now perceived by every one that
the real bone of contention In the coal
region Is the movement of labor to union
lie the industry and the effort of the
owners to avert unionization. But for
this. probably there would have been no
strike. According to President Roose-
velt's view, 1t would be great mistake
now to settle the smaller question ana
not to improve this opportunity to have
the larger cone adjusted. Fortunately
there is an opportunity to settle it, and
present indications are that 1t will be
taken advantage Of to the full
Information Of the most trustworthy
character is that at least part Of the
corporations operating in the coal fields
will not oppose unionization. II they 90
offer opposition it will be as matter or
form and for the purpose Of preserving
harmony among the companies. But II
the commission shall so decide, unioniza-
ton will be cheerfully accepted. Accord
ing to the opinions held by men who are
advising President Roosevelt at this juno
ture. amortization Of the industry Is the
logical almost the inevitable outcome OF
the struggle just closed The union Is
there, and it will stay there, whether REQ
oenized, or not If -unrecognfzed there
viii be more trouble. If recognized
and made to bear its fair share
of responsibility, the problem Is solved as
far as human wisdom can solve 1t. Union
ization is the thing which the operators
really made their fight against, and they
have lost. -. ...s~. -+-. ~ ~
One OF the new YORK ofsaHs OIL 'ne coaa
railway presidents offers the apparently
inspired suggestion that John Mitchell
should not be permitted to appear before
the arbitration commission to present the
miners side It is claimed the operators
made the condition in their proposal that
the adjudication was to be between them
.and their employees and that as Mr..
Mitchell is not an employee of any OF the
companies he has no proper right to ap-
pear before the board.
with this narrow view President Roose-
welt has no sympathy whatever. In his
opinion the employees have right to select
whomsoever they choose to speak for
them, and after recent events no one will
doubt Mr.. Mitchelps credentials.