Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-18
PEERLESS LABOR LEADERS.

A
Some Of the men who have attained
recognition as leaders OF union labor
in the United States have sought to
win what they considered the rights
OF themselves and their followers by
the violence OF war rather than by
The arts VI diplomacy. The late r..
NJ. Arthur. for many years head OF
The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engis
neers, was one OF tue first clearly 70
perceive the disadvantages, from the
standpoint Of labor, OF the former
method as contrasted with the latter.
lie believed that Industrial peace was
under almost any conceivable eireuin
stances, better In the long run for both
labor and capital, and especially for
labor, than Industrial war, and he
lived signally to yindicate the justice
Of his opinion. For many years be-
fore his death the locomotive engi-
Deers had practically no serious diff
cnlties with their employers. AT the
same time, every engineer In the Unit
ed States had steady work at good
pay. The engineers were reasonable
Iii their demands ami did not fly into
Il fl of passion and strike on every
triiiing pretext, and they religiously
fulfilled their contracts. This reason
ableness and honorableness on the
part OF the engineers met a CORE
spending reasonableness and honor
ableness On the part Of their employ.
ers; and this Is the secret Of the high
wages, steady work and favorable
terms OF employment that the engi
ncers have so long enjoyed.
It Is gratifying TO observe that John
Mitchell, president 81 the United Mine
| Workers Of America, manifests, on
most occasions, a disposition TO follow
hi the footsteps Of Y. M. Arthur rath'
er than In those OF the Debses, the
| Skaters and the Sam Parkses. 1t Is
true that he conducted one OF the
most extensive strikes in industrial
history. II Is true, also, that he made
mistakes. then and at other times
But his voice Is for peace. and usually
his actions tend to preserve or re
store It.
The Kansas City Journal approves
of the attitude that Mr.. Mitchell has
assumed toward the striking miners
at Noyinger. Mo, 1nese miners were
bound BY a contract signed by theil
district officers and by MIR. Mitchell
TO stay at work. In direct c%ontraven
ton Of this contract, they struck
Mitchell came To Kansas City to re
new negotiations on behalf Of the min
ers Of Missouri with the operators q
Missouri. Before proceeding to thi!
business, however. he ordered the No
vinger miners to return to work, AMI
he intimates that II they DO not OBEY
he will adopt some method for punish
Ing their d~isobedience. He perceiyei
clearly the evils that necessarily mus
flow from such outrageous conduci
on the part OF workingmen. Con
tracts entered into between employers
and employees are treaties for thu
preservation OF industrial peace, ant
II they are not held absolutely sacred
by both parties. chronic industrial
warfare must be the consequence. II
a state OF incessant conflict capita
would lose heavily: but MI. Mitchell
knows from costly experience thu
losses Of capital would be much more
than Offset by the losses and miseriei
OF labor.
1t Is to be hoped that Mr.. Mitchell
will adhere closely to his policy Of
honest dealing and Cancellation. II
is to be hoped also that labor will
choose an increasing number Of lead
ers who will follow his good exam
pie. In that direction. and In that
alone. lies Industrial peace and pros
perity for the nation.