The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-30
"A Notable Labor Declaration.

A Notable Labor Declaration.
One of the most hopeful indications fol
the future of capital and labor is the res
olution passed yesterday by the Brother
hood Of Railway Trainmen, In session ir
Denver. condemning the sympathetic
strike and it's frequent accompaniment
violation Of contracts with employers
The resolution was inspired by the refer
ence made to the subject by Grand Mas.
ter Morrissey, who said:
"The question of it's ability to protect
its working agreements is now a promi
nent factor in determining the RESPONSE
bility Of a labor organization in the bust
ness and employing world. The organic
alton that represents employees in MAX
Ing an arrangement that is acceptable te
them and shirks responsibility when in
diyiduals or rivals disturb the peaceful re-
lations between employees and employer
is not of the type that will command con-
fidence in our progressive civilization and
the enlightened trend of the relations be-
tween capital and labor"
Mr., Morrissey predicted that, while ed
ucation Of unionists in the necessity OF
protecting inviolate the labor contract was
slow, yet he predicted that one day the
the unions with. much contempt they
now regard the scab. These sentiments
were embodied in the resolutions
This is not the first time that the SYM
pathetic strike and the violation of labor
contracts have been positively con
demned by an important labor organiza,-
ton, for last year the bituminous miners
of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and I'LL
tnois, in joint meeting with the opera
tors (there were 500 miners and 500 oper-
ators at the convention) declared against
strikes and lockouts and in favor Of trade
contracts for specified periods of time, and
affirmed the sacredness of such contracts
and their binding nature, and condemned
any departure whatsoever from the letter
and spirit OF such agreements with en-
ployers, unless by mutual consent, espec-
tally as they rest upon mutual confidence
ing In court, and the employers being bus
mess men doing business either as indi-
vidua1s or in corporate capacity These
contracts have been kept faithfully ever
since the system was introduced, and the
miners emphasized their good faith by
declining last year to enter into a sympa-
thetic strike with the anthracite miners
of Pennsylvania, but kept their contracts.
The unions adopting such course are
sure to receive the public confidence as
promoters of peace and of confidential re-
lattons with, the employers, who are equal
~ bound to maintain their agreements,
Yesterday the Amalgamated Association
of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, and the
iron manufacturers committee signed the
wage scale for another year, insuring
peaceful relations, and the meeting is said
to have been the most harmonious on
record. With these examples of harmony
IN the Industrial world. President Movers
remarks before the Western Fedora ton
OF Miners at Denver, on Wednesday,
sound a note of discord, for he bitterly
condemned John Mitchell because he ac-
fceptcd the finding Of the anthracite strike
commission, together with the recon-
lamentations agreed upon for the settle
nnent Of the disastrous strike of last
year. Mr.. Meyer declared that the three
years settlement ''binds the chains OF
slavery more securely around his mem
bership and deprives them Of even the
privilege Of appealing to their masters
for a period Of three years. This Ian
guage Is to be reprobated, for the plan
adopted gives the anthracite miners three
tribunals, impartial in their organization.
ito which all differences may be appealed
at any time, with ultimate appeal If
desired, to the judicial authorities Of the
district. There never was a fairer pro-
vision for adjustment Of differences and
the prevention of strikes Indeed, the
three years agreement may we'll be con-
@tinued another term when it expires, for
it works to the advantage of the miners
Meantime, as Grand Master Morrissey
said yesterday, the business standing Of
trades unions, and their own well being,
and the confidence of the, public in them,
which cannot be safely ignored, depend
upon the way they treat the question of
their ability to maintain inviolate their
labor contracts, which are Of strongly
binding moral nature.