The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-12-05
THE NrERmsoo,MN AND COLORADO DECEMBER

rights, and cannot be compelled to work Capital
has received its patent for its coal lands and, with
its final payment. has the assurance of our govern
ment that it shall be protected in the possession of
its property; that no injury shall be inflicted on
those who are willing to work. Capital also claims
the right to say whom it shall employ. Here comes
the difficult question, which cannot be easily har
monized with the rights of the contending parties
In theory our government recognizes and main
tains the equality of all men, and is opposed to
class distinctions and privileged systems. Is it the
same in practice? Coal, like water and air, is an
absolute necessity Can capital rest serenely on its
rights and refuse to have its coal mined until the
conditions, which it requires complied with
Yes, if it can otherwise supply the public demand.
But, if it cannot otherwise have Its coal mined,
can it still say to the government Il will shut
down and remain shut down rather than submit to
the dictation of my enemies. ] accept no compro-
mise. That is my natural right. and | appeal to
you to preserve for me my rights" Here there
must be some remedy, for climax is reached which
not only individuals and society, but our national
existence, requires to be solved. The rights of la
Dor are disposed of. Can the government compel
capital to work its mines for the benefit of the
people, Does the United States possess the fright
of eminent domain" over all lands which it sells to
its citizens? Webster's definition of the same i'm
plies that it does. When, then. a public calamity
arises, the government alone can remedy the evil.
In doing it must be just 1t could not confs
cate property, but. like the granting of right to
make public improvements through private prop
erty, there must be Just compensation.
The subject presented by Justice is not only
interesting, but very grave one. When
viewed in its present complications. and the
still greater ones which may arise in the
future, it must appeal to every loyal and
patriotic American. We are living in an en-
lightened age; books are multiplied, the daily press
is at every mans door in the morning. and the peo
pie, be they the representatives of capital la
Dor, swayed only by the comments which APP
peal to their side of the case. This engenders
spirit of individualism which abhors dctation. 1t
makes the relationship between capital and labor
a matter of hard calculation in dollars and cents,
and the ambition of both is to look out for Number
One. Viewed impartially, and assuming the rights
of both to be just, it is now up to the governing
powers to disentangle those intricate difficulties
which are annually submitted for arbitration. The
Intermountain Catholic, in answering its
avows its inability to solve the diff
Guilty 1t takes an independent and, as far pos
sible, an impartial view of the case. 1t cannot
conceal its sympathy for the laborer striving to
better his condition in life, but at the ex-
pense of law and order Let justice be done to ALL
for justice founded on truth, is the measure of
true liberty.