Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-12

just. .-.
Efforts to Convince Mitchell.
1--WE have made every effort to convince
Mr.. Mitchell and his friends Of the utter
impracticability Of his scheme. Our chief
objection to his organization was that IT
was a foreign organization. interested in a
rival and competitive business.
I'VE never could see the wisdom Of per-
uniting the bituminous coal miners to in
ject themselves into the anthracite mining
situation 1t has proved to be just as mis-
chievous as we believed 1t would be.
I'm addition to the fact that the Miners
Union was controlled by hostile interest.
we objected to it because we cannot dele
gate to the Miners Union, or any other
labor union, the right to determine who
shall be our employees.
1.-The law of Pennsylvania and the charter
Of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company, In express terms. give to the
president and directors the power Of ap-
pointing all such officers, agents or en-
ployes as they may deem necessary.
I'VE have the right to employ any honest
man without discrimination as to religion,
nationality membership in labor organi-
cations. This Is right we will not sur
render.
I'VE do not object to our employees join
ing labor organizations. This Is their privi-
lege. But we will not agree to turn over
the management Of our business to q labor
organization. because some Of our en-
ployes belong to it. Z -
A General Proposition.
eff Mr.. Mitchell simply represented our
own employees, and was acting exclusively
for them, there could be no objection to
dealing with him, but he5represents an or
ganization having for its object some ITO
plan scheme of uniformity In wages and
conditions in the mining OF coal all over the
United States; and. instead, therefore. Of
considering only the questions at issue be-
tween our employees and ourselves, he Is
considering general proposition which re-
lates to all the coal miners IN the United
States. - ~ - 80
ITO limit the right Of exertion, Of work,
is to limit production. 1t is not only a
wrong done to the individual. but it is a
violation of sound economic principles, and,
therefore, an injury to society.
"Tha ultimate effect of restricting pro-
duction, SO as to divide employment and in
crease wages, must be to keep on dividing
the wage fund as often as new men seek
employment. There must be a limit to an
increase of wages. but there can be no limit
to the increase of workmen.
1.-The process must inevitably lead to the
destruction of the industry, or the reduction
Of the wages of every man to sum barely
sufficient to sustain life.
How Wages Can Be Increased.
"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 employment
creates demand for commodities and de-
mand for workmen to produce them. Only
In this way can the wage fund be increased.
IF we are over-anxious about the effect
Of the mere possibilities Of monopoly. what
ing the control Of the fuel Of the country In
one organization. and that. too, an organi-
cation without capital or responsibility?
1--WE are not left to conjecture. The facts
are before us. The United Mine Workers
have created a monster monopoly. They
did shut up the anthracite mines for more
than five months. They taxed the bitumi-
nous miners and all laborers over whom
organized labor had control to support the
strike.
1.-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
bituminous coal more than doubled.
The Public Suffered.
1.-THE supply was inadequate. The public
was suffering. not only from high price,
but from a scarcity Of coal. Industrial
operations closed down, and men were
thrown out of employment.
'All over the land. except in the districts
that could be supplied by the great anthra-
cite coal companies. the poor. the honest
workman and the well-to-do suffered for
want of fuel
1.-The record shows that an honest effort
was made to convince the United Mine
Workers that their demands were unjust.
Who now will say, in the light or the testf-
mony. that the demand for an uniform rate
Of wages extending all over the anthracite
regions was reasonable?
1.-THE difference in conditions between the
anthracite operations, and the bituminous
operations was clearly pointed out to these
I'VE met them. as tt they " requested. before
the National Civic Federation and discussed
the whole situation Al the suggestion Of
the Civic Federatiops 1as committee OF our
employees and Operators was appointed to
further consider the. subject and report to
a meeting of the fedsEatien to- be called by
Its chairman. ZOE eli ;g
Civic federation Criticised.
when we parted. 4, Was with the distinct
understanding that Wa, should report to the
Civic Federation thegrestilt Of our confer
ence. To our amazerhent. the Civic Fedora
ton. for reasons of It's Own. was never con-
vened to hear our report
1--WE had right to EXPECT that the gen.
tlemen Of the Civic FxdAfation would deal
honestly and justly 1byd us. and by their
counsel and advice and dnfluence help to
avert the great disaster which. in all Its
ugliness. Is now before us. They deserted
the cause they had espoused'
Mr.. Baer then read the letter from Presi-
dent Mitchell suggesting that the questions
at issue be submitted to committee OF five
OF the Industrial bureau Of the National
Civic Federation. With regard to this Presi-
Human ingenuity could not devise a
proposition more unfair 1t proposed an ar
bitration board to be selected by the indus
trial branch OF the National Civic Fedora
tion The Industrial branch Of that fedora
tion Is composed Of thu leading labor lead
ers Of the United States
There Is not q single representative of
the anthracite mine owners on It. The same
Industrial branch had utterly failed in the
conferences we already had with IT.
Claims Wages Are Fair,