The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-09-17
UMPIRE WRIGHT'S DECISIONS.

Praise and roasting for the same
decision has been the lot of umpires
ever since umpiring began, no matter
whether the decision concerned a base
ball game or matter of less or great
er Importance, and Hon. Carroll d.
Wright. the umpire to whom was re-
ferred the five disputes between the
operators and miners representatives
on the board of Cancellation, appoint
ed under the provisions of the anthra-
cite mine strike commission, is no
exception to the rule. a few days
ago he filed his findings with the con-
Citation board and since then he has
been alternately Landed and blamed.
On the whole, however, the praise
seems to outweigh the blame and if
the miners, against whom most of the
decisions are directed, accept the re-
suit and abide by it as it IS expected
they will, it would seem as though
Mr. Wright's work would go long
way toward fixing the status of
things in the coal fields on fairly
permanent basis.
The most important finding of Um-
pire Wright concerns the right of en-
ployers to discharge employees with
out cause and the ruling ON this point
is as follows
Taking the rulings or the court, the as
sertion Of the anthracite coal strike
commission, the clauses in the agree
ment made by and with the United
Mine Workers of America and the ad-
missions of the different members of the
board of conciliation, whether on the
one side or the other, there can be no
doubt that man has a right to quit
the service of his employer whenever
he sees fit, with or without giving
any. cause, provided he gives proper
notice, and that the employer mas a
perfect right to employ and discharge
men in accordance with the condi-
tions of his industry; that he is not
obliged to give any cause for dis
charge, but that he should, as in the
reverse case, give proper notice. This
right to discharge must, therefore, be
sustained. Any other view of the
case would result in compelling men
to work for an employer when they
did not wish to, and thus enslave
them, and, on the other hand, it
would compel employers to employ
men whether they had work for them
or not, and whether the men were in
competent or not, and would thus
stagnate business and work to the in
jury of all other employers.
This decision has been variously re-
ceived. The coal operators look upon
ii as very important one and the
superintendent of large coal COM
pany is quoted as saying that it will
either bring permanent peace in the
anthracite region or open war upon
the part of the union miners. He
points out that ninety per cent of the
petty strikes that have taken place
since the strike commission made its
award were caused by the discharge
of some employe for cause. In order
to have him reinstated all the en-
| ployes of the mine would 60 out. On
the other hand the officials of the
United Mine Workers claim that the
| privilege given employers is apt to be
abused by mine foremen, who, acting
upon instructions from headquarters,
can make it very unpleasant for the
men who were active i'll the last
strike. Commenting on the decision
the Boston Herald makes the follow,
ing fair minded and clearly expressed
comment:
The findings of Umpire Wright il
the coal disputes, with but singl,
exception, sustain the position takel
by those representing the mine oper
ators. The question now comes as t,
what the unions will do in the mat
ter. They are on trial, with tn
public as the jury. The operator
have claimed that they could not trea
with the unions, because those bodie
were not responsible and could no
control their own members. Th