The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-11
MINERS UNION ATTACKED
ARGUMENTS BEFORE STRIKE
COMMISSTON CONTINUED.

COMMISSION CONTINUED.
Attorney for Non-UniOn Men Heard
| Yesterday-The Union Denounced as q
! Fomenter of Crime and Anarchy
/ Eloquent Appeal by Major Warren
What Socialism Proposes Ia DO.
Philadelphia, Feb. 1O-The United
Mine Workers of America, as an organ
ization, was severely scored to-day by
counsel before the anthracite coal strike
commission. The non-union men,
through their attorney, John T. Lena
han, presented their side of the contro-
versy, and demanded consideration at
the hands of the commission, claiming
the legal right to earn livelihood as
they might elect without the consent or
dictation of the union. During his pre-
sentation of the case Mr.. Lenahan de-
nounced the union as fomentor of
crime and anarchy. The main feature
Of his argument was the claim that the
union lad no legal or moral right to
coerce miners into membership or to
arrogate to itself the authority to fix the
wages of mine workers.
James H. Torrey, counsel for the Del
aware and Hudson company claimed
that the question of recognition of the
union was not an issue before the COM
mission. He asserted that violence and
intimidation were agencies selected for
the promotion of the purposes of the
mine workers.
Major Everett Warren, counsel for
the Hillside Coal and Iron company and
the Pennsylvania Coal company, an
swered the demands Of the miners in
detail and declared the socialistic theo-
ries of the union. or some of it's leaders,
to be responsible for unreasonable
claims.
Mr.. Torrey concluded his argument at
the afternoon session. He was followed
by Major Warren, who said in part:
''The rights Of persons the rights Of
property, the rights of employees, popu-
lar liberty and constitutional limita-
tions, the phenomena Of human associa-
tions, the interests and happiness of the
people-all these, are, to some extent in
volved in this submission. I plead for
a broad, sane, conservative and re-
straining treatment of the great ques-
b1fa ID
the conduct of human forces. the adj
justment of social problems, and the
preservation of society itself.
'sThe real parties to this submission
are the employees of the several compan-
les on the one side, or certain OF them,
and their employers on the other. They
who are seeking to become parties and
intruding themselves upon the commits
sion. absolutely without warrant by the
terms thereof, are the United Mine
Workers of America"
Major Warren then explained the diff
ference in the conditions existing in the
northern field and the other anthracite
districts and stated that the upper re-
gions must be considered by the COM
mission as separate problem. He con-
tended that the claim of the union that
the rate Of wages paid in the hard coal
mines was much lower than the rate
paid for similar work in the soft coal
fields was not supported by evidence.
He said that the companies have proved
accidents for the most past to be the
result of the miners carelessness, and
that the occupa ton of miner is COM
no e1v oyIi A1,n
claim that wages in the anthracite
mines were insufficient to maintain the
American standard of living, and the
statement that $500 year woulr suf-
flee so to live, Major Warren said the
average earnings of the contract miner
for the year 1901 in the employ of the
companies ne represented were approx
imately $3.50. He said it should be
borne in mind that the annual earnings
of the mine workers were limited by
the men themselves. He declared that
since the advent Of the union the earn
ing capacity of the contract miner had
been limited and, instead of the union
being an advantage to him it had work.
ed to his disadvantage in restricting his
earning capacity.
Socialism" he said, proposed to es-
tahlish an equality among unequal men
by reducing them to the dead level of
this possible majority. Instead of allow
ing every man to determine for himself
what he wants to do. it is to be done
for him. That is nothing but slavery.
What is the theory of the union if it is
not this? I do not dispute the right of
men to organize and I hold no brief
against organized labor. The methods
of the United Mine Workers, however,
appear to be eXquisitely adapted to de-
grade intelligent labor, to paralyze
honest industry and to crush spirit,