The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-12-26
DEMANDS OF LABOR.

To the Editor of The Intemountain Catholic:
In your last issue, quoting from Carroll D.
Wright, 1t was stated that the wage system was
not the proper compensation for the laborer miner
or mechanic. This has proved itself unsatisfactory
in the past. II sewers all friendly relationship be-
tween employer and employe 1t makes the bust
ness relationship between both a matter of cold.
mathematical calculation. The latter see colossal
fortunes, wrmg by the former from the sweat of
their brow and their hearts blood, lavishly and
foollshly spent at home and abroad, whilst the
army of producers, who enriched Carnegie, are
old, feeble and many manned Many have gone to
premature graves, and the remainder where
they fifty years ago. Of what benefit are his
reading rooms to this vast army who contribute to
the riches which are now burden to him! Would
it not be just TO the wage earners to share in the
profits of the coal mines instead of receiving
small pittance for the time spent in the dark dun
geons and bad air of the coal pits! The threat
so frequently made, that capital can starve labor
into submission will longer enslave united la
Dor. Our just cause of grievance comes from such
men Carnegie, who have wruhg their millions
from the sweat and muscle of their poems. Equal
ity backed by intelligence tells that was not JUS
tce. In tins age 1t cannot stand the test of hon
esy and fair play. We have III our last battle in
the coal regions of Pennsylvania received the rec
ognition of the president of the United States and
if we are united we will win The union of coal
miners, who produce indispensable product will
lead to victory. A UNION MAN
Salt Lake, Dec. 81. 1908.
We insert the above communication more to
show the tendency of the present conflict than for
its real merits. Yet in studying it carefully. we
find it contains more philosophy than the world
ever dreamed of The writer refers to the army of
wOrknen who wasted away their lives enriching
Mr. Carnegie, who has been for the past ten years
trying to find some outlet for his immense and
burdensome wealth, whilst the remnants of that
army old and feeble, and many are depending
the charity of the great state of PENNSYLVANIA
Because old and decrepit they are set aside For
them this rich and glorious land is exhausted be-
their is dried up their old bones creak
and no longer they able to enter the bowels of
the earth and dig out the immense treasures which
concealed beneath its fertile soil We have
heard all this before, and IN the present agitation
the tongues that were mute and silent in the past
proclaiming an inequality where all should
be equal. Military rule and Calling guns have no
terrors for them whilst they stand united in solid
phalanx and peaceaby press their cause, but they
must not infringe on the rights and liberties of
fellow workmen who may be unwilling to Join their
ranks. No doubt the action of Mr.. Carnegie has
developed much of the bitter feeling. and what
might Oe colSluereu ten years ago an unjust de-
mand is boldly made today. In the present crisis
they cry is not starvation, but struggle for lib
erty, equality and emancipation from the present
system of wages. This our correspondent indicates
when he asks would it not be Just to those. wage
earners tc share in the profits of the coal mines
instead of receiving small pittance for the time
spent in the dark dungeons and bad air of the
coal pits! The question propounded is difficult
one and, in our advanced and progressive state of
society cannot be easily passed over. A notable
change has come the working classes A de-
1nand in the sharing of the profits of our chief
industries opens up new chapter in the great
evolution that is taking place Only few DAYS
ago we listened patiently TO one of their craft
giving his reasons why the demand was just
He said: eff labor is a unit, and its rights cham
pioned by chief, both capital and the public
must make It's oyertures TO our representative. For