The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-03-26

sliding scale, to become effective
April 1.
90 No discrimination by either the
mine owners or workers because of
membership or non membership in "a
labor union.
(7) Awards to continue in force un.
til March 81, 1906.
(8) No award in matter of recogni-
tion or recognition of union.
Board says Mine Workers. constitution
does not present inviting inducements
to operators to enter into contractual
relations with union
The recommendation the commits
sion makes are these:
Q) Discontinuance of employment
of coal and iron police.
(2) Enforcing laws relating to en-
ployment of children.
(3) Compulsory investigation of
difficulties.
The material losses occasioned by
the strike, in wages, property, freights
and the like are computed at 500, 100,
900.
The moral disasters are beyond COM
putation. The murders are fourteen
the offences against law and society are
like the leaves of the forest. Besides
Staying, there have been manning,
burning, assault, dynamiting, terror
izing, violent interference with the
rights of men and property "a riotous
overturning of all the defences of the
social system.
The commission could not legislate.
Its mission was to adjust. In this re-
spect that body, or its work, is hardly
the reasonable subject OF criticism.
The Office of criticism came long be-
fore the creation of the commission,
which was a measure of expediency.
, In emergencies, in war or peace, sim
liar to that which arose in the anthra-
cite region of Pennsylvania, govern
ment had devised and executed tie
means of maintaining order and exc
cutting the laws. None of these emer-
gencies in Importance, or in wide
reaching and disastrous consequences,
transcribed the one presented in a
small section OF the great and pow
erful State of Pennsylvania.
The prime responsibility for ma
terial losses aggregating nearly 800,
600, 900, and, for the other losses inn
measurably greater, accruing from this
strike, lies at the door of government.
Government is instituted for the main
tenance of order. Its duty is to pro-
tect the governed. 1t takes into its
own hands the rights and powers OF
protection and of punishment for of
lenses. So that the individual, il
general terms. who takes into his OWL
hands those rights and powers dele.
gated to government becomes an of.
fender punishable for his usurpation.
Government failed in this instance il
it's highest function, failed criminallv,
and it's failure has not been removed
or lost to sight by the work of the
strike commission. Government il
still the chief culprit and it's derelic
ton, in crisis of greatest moment
is still without excuse or extenua
tion-and will always be. 1t is the
/ worst case of default of organized anG
all powerful government on record
AS to the awards, while they settle
no fundamental question, while they
still leave in statu quo all legal ant
governmental problems respecting the
relations of employed and employer
they can hardly be impeached on til,
score of merit or justice. The miner
| and the operators ought to be able t.
live in harmony during the tire,
years of the continuation of the com
missions awards, and meantime gov
ernment may awake to full realiza
ton Of its high and responsible dutie
to the governed and arrange a plal
whereby not only the coal miners ant
mine owners may live and labor il
harmony, but the people engaged il
| everv nthar branch of ind,, ctrv as wall