The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-12

proposition which relates 10 all the coai
miners in the United States.
TO limit the right of work Is to limit
production 1t is not only a wrong done
TO the individual, but IL is violation of
sound economic principles and therefore
an injury 10 society The ultimate effect
OF restricting productlonfso as to divide
employment and increased wages must be
TO keep on dividing the wage fund as
often as new men seek employment.
MUST BE A LIMIT.
There must be a limit to an increase of
wages but there can be no limit TO the
increase of workmen. The process must
inevitably lead to the destruction OF the
industry or the reduction of the wages
of every man TO a sum barely sufficient
TO sustain life.
Wages can only Increase when each in
dividual is left free to exert himself to
his fullest capacity, thereby creating
wealth which In turn gives new employ
ment--creates "a demand for commodities
and demand for workmen to produce
them only I'm this way can the wage
| fund be increased.
''If we are over anxious about the eff
feet of the mere possibilities OF monopoly
what must be the measure of anxiety as
to place the fuel OF the country in one or
ganization and that too an organization
without capital or responsibility.
facts are before us.
CREATED A MONOPOLY.
The United Mine Workers have created
a monster monopoly. They did shut up
the anthracite mines for more than ive
months. They taxed the bituminous mi
ncrs and all labor over whom organized
labor had control to support the strike.
The owners of bituminous mines, some in
self-defense, others in the hope of gain,
contributed TO the strike fund. With what
result? The price OF both anthracite and
bltuminous coal more than doubled. The
supply was inadequate. The public was
suffering. not only from high price but
from scarcity OF coal. Industrial opera
tons closed down and men were thrown
out of employment, All over the land ex-
cept i'm the districts that could be supplied
by the great anthracite coal companies.
the poor. the honest workman and the
well TO do suffered for want OF fuel
THE records show that an honest Ell
fort was made TO convince the United
Mine Workers that their demands were
unjust, Who now will say in the light of
the testimony that the demands for
uniform rate of wages extending all over
the anthracite regions was reasonable?
The difference I'm conditions between the
anthracite operations and the btsminous
operations were clearly pointed out TO
/ these labor leaders.
THE CIVIC FEDERATION.
\
fore the National Civic Federation and
discussed the whole situation. At the
/ suggestion OF the civic Federation "a
| committee OF our employees and opera
tors was appointed TO further consider
/ the subject ana report to a meeting OF the
I Federation, TO be called by its chairman.
WHEN we parted ~ was with the dis
/ tinct understanding that we should re-
/ port To the Civic Federation the result
/ OF our conference. To our amaZement
the Civic Federation. for reasons OF It's
I pxNn w OIL ff ,aIr
/ port. We had a right TO expect that the
I gentlemen OF the Civic Federation would
deal deal honestly d and Justly Justly by ns and, and by
| help avert the great disaster. which I'm all
I its ugliness Is now before ms. They de-
serted the cause they had cspoused'
UNFAIR PROPOSITION.
/ Mr.. Baer then read the letter from
/ President Mitchell suggesting that the
l questions at issue be submitted To- n
I committee of Ave OF the industrial bu-
I rcau OF the National Civic federation.
With regard TO this Mr. Baer said:
Human ingenuity could not devise
\ proposition more unfair. II Is proposed
/ that an arbitration board be selected by
\ the industrial branch Of the National
\ Civic federation.
THE Industrial branch 81 that fedora b
/ tion ~ composed Of the leading labor
! leaders OF the United states. There r.
not single representative of the anthra-
I cite mine owners In H. This same in
dustrial branch had utterly failed In the
conferences we had already had with &C."
After reviewing the old sliding scale"
wage system. Mr.. Baer presented this
proposition.
BAERs PROPOSITION
That the rate OF wages now pa ia SHAH
be the minimum basis for the next three
years. that from the first OF November
90 The first OF April 1908. an employees
other than contract miners. shall he paid
an additional five per cent
That on and after April l. ieos for
each five cents IN excess OF N5O per ton
on the average price realized for white
ash coal IN the harb0r I'm New York. ON
All sizes above pea, wages shall be ad-
/ vanccd l per cent. the wages 90 rise or
fall per cent for each FIVE cents Increase
or decrease In prices; they shall never
fsll during the next three years below the
present basis.
THE average price for each region 10
be ascertained by n competent accountant.
10 be appointed hy Judge Gray. chairman
4 n the commission. or rs case for any
reason Judge Gray cannot ,aoi. then by
one Of the United States circuit Judges