The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-11
.FOMENTER OF CRIME
UNITED NINE WORKERS UNION
BITTERLY DENOUNCED.
SCORED FOR ITS ACTS.
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION HEARD
SOME WARM TALK.

Attorney Lenahnn Spoke for the
Non-UniOn Men and Roasted the
Big Labor Organization - Mem
TONED anarchy with the Organi-
xntiOn-COunseI for Coal Compn-
nies Talked of sOciaIistic Theo-
rics of Some of the Union Leaders.
Miners Ia blame for Accidents.
Philadelphia, Feb. 1O.-The United
Mine Workers of Americas organiza-
ton was severely scored to-day by
counsel before the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission. The non-union
men through their attorney, John T.
Lenahan. presented their side of the
controversy, and demanded considera-
ton at the hands of the commission,
claiming a legal right to earn a
livelihood as they might elect, with
out the consent or dictation OF the
union During his presentation of the
case Mr.. Lenahan denounced the un-
ion as a "fomentor of crime and
anarchy"
Mr.. Lenahan, in his argument, pre-
scented three propositions. He sub
mitted that the commission must find
the United Mine Workers responsible
for the violence. and other unlawful
acts, which deprived the non-union
miners of their lawful right to work;
that all authorities agree that the
law guarantees to every man the right
to work where, when and for whom
he pleases and that nothing could
justify a finding by the commission
that non-union miners must deal with
their employers through the medium
of the union, or be subject in the
slightest degree to the control or die
tatlon of the union.
Combinations Are Legal.
THE freedom of the individual to
work only according to the dictates of
his own interests are made subservient
| to the supposed good of the greatest
number. We agree that the law does
| not prohibit such combinations, or rules,
when voluntarily accepted. What we
deny is that any workman can be CO.
! creed into accepting them. When this
| is done, directly or indirectly he is de-
| prived of that liberty of action which
| the law guarantees to him. The union
presents as one of its essential claims
before this commission, and demand
1 that the mine owners shall accept the
Union as the representative of the min
| ers. and fix the rights both of union
! and non-union miners by conceding It's
! demands. We deny this right, and
! earnestly protest that 1t could not be
conceded by the commission. without
a distinct and deliberate violation of
| law"
James II. Torrey, counsel for the
a nd ,4fa tfe,-
ed that the question of recognition of
| the union was not an issue before the
| commission, but he devoted considera-
BILE time to the consideration of that de-
mand. He asserted that the violence
| and intimidation were agencies selected
for the promotion of the purposes of
the mine workers. Regarding the de-
mand for an eight-hour working day
Mr. Torrey said the evidence showed
that for various reasons the breakers
did not average more than eight hours
a day. so that the physical exertions
of long hours were not felt.
Have SOciaIistic Theories.
Maj. 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 socialists the
cries of the union, or some of it's lead
claims.
Mr.. Warren asserted that the COM
panieS have proved accidents for the
most part to have been the result of
the miners carelessness, and that the
occupation of a miner is comparative
ly healthy. Regarding Mr.. Mitchelrs
claim that wages in the anthracite
mines were insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living, Mai.
Warren said:
Fortunately for all of us, that has
been interpreted by Mr.. Mitchell, and
he has given us the benefit of his
opinion that 5000 a year would permit
the mine workers to live in a manner
conformable to American standards
The average earnings of the contract
miner for the year 1901 in the employ
of the companies I represent are APP
proximately $780,
Throughout the discussion as to the
rates of wages, no matter how it may
be presented, whether by figures. oral
testimony or argument, it is absolutely
necessary to bear in mind that the an
nual earnings of the mine workers are
limited by the men themselves, l am
perfectly willing that you should take
into consideration all the evidence Of
fered on the other side as to the eff
forts made to equalize the distribution
OF cars; and after all this, it remains
clearly established before you, that.
since the advent of the union, the earn
ing capacity of the contract miner has
been limited, and, instead of the union
being an advantage to him, il has
worked to his disadvantage in restrict
ing his earning capacity.
Nothing but slavery.
II do not charge this upon the great
body of mine workers themselves.
They do not understand why 1t is
done. They are not familiar with the
socialistic theories of some of the
leaders of the organization. Socialism
proposes to establish an equality
among unequal men, by reducing them
to the dead level of this possible ma
jority. Instead OF allowing everyone
to determine for himself what he
wants to do, II is to be done for him.
THAT is nothing but slavery. What
is the theory of the union If ii Is not
for this? l 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 degrade intelligent labor.