Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Editor.
The Coal Commissions Report.


Three great results were achieved by
President Roosevelt's intervention in the
anthracite coal strike last October. First.
the strike was brought to close and n
terrible disaster involving millions of peo-
pie was averted second, the questions at
issue were submitted to responsible and
capable judges for settlement with assur-
ances of acceptance of their decision by
the contending parties: third, the investi-
CATION by that body has now closed with
the submission of unanimous report.
which must be regarded, apart from its
settlement of the immediate controversy,
as one of the notable contributions to the
education OF the public on this great ques-
ton of the relations between capital and
labor in the United States.
The findings and awards of the coal COM
mission follow In the main the principle
of compromise. The miners are to be paid
wages ten per cent higher instead of twenty
per cent. as demanded by them and such re-
auctions in the hours of labor grant
ed also split the difference" between con-
ditions and demands. The commission de-
ciines to specify any radical change in the
method of measuring coal for purposes
OF payment pointing to the statutes of
PENNSYLVANIA as affording the miners am
pie opportunity for securing the system
of payment by weight. 1t finally, on the
fourth Question. refuses to make any award
as to the relations between the operators
and the United Mine Workers of America,
on the ground that this matter was not
properly within it's Jurisdiction, although 1t
outlines a suggestive plan for the settle
ment of future differences.
The chief public interest centers In the OBJ
servations of the commission on the sub
ject of the status of the union. on trades
unionism in general and on the matter or
lawlessness Of all kinds during the strike.
Only the most radical advocate of the union
can object to the commissions remarks on
this score. They temperate and judicial
and forceful in consequence. They strike
squarely at the principle that while every
man has the right to join with another man
to better his condition. those two men shall
not be permitted to declare that third man
has no right to work. even though he obeys
the law But, says the commission in eff
feet, the third man will be likely sooner or
later to Join the other two, If by their
peaceful conduct and increased efficiency
and greater prestige with the employer
they have bettered their condition while he
has remained stationary. That is to say,
the union will win its way most effectively
by lawful methods, by striving to increase
the usefulness Of its members and by APP
pealing to the reason rather than the fears
Of the non-unionist.
Respect for law In every form Is taught
by this report The union must obey the
law, the operator must obey the law, the
sympa thetic outsider. whose passions are
likely to be aroused by a conflict, must also
ta wi
cious weapon of attack 1t is unjustified by
any. consideration. For the conflict be-
tween the forces Is not warfare, which can
be waged only by the government. and
therefore the reprisals which are incidental
to warfare are unwarranted. So also the
blacklist and the discriminatory measures
Of the operators are immoral measures
where they are not actually unlawful under
the statutes of the community. That there
were lawlessness and viciousness and mis-
management on both sides the commission
finds to be painfully apparent. That the re-
sponsibility for the lawleSsness Of the mob
eventually rests with the organization
which. despite its subsequent efforts to-
ward preservation of the peace. precipitated
the conditions inviting the disorders, 1t
also declares. The union must take into
account the fact that a strike always con-
duces to violence. and 1t cannot point to the
irresponsible mob for the blame when prop
erty Is destroyed and lives are lost in the
course of a strike of its ordering.
One most wholesome suggestion by the
commission is that which denounces the
employment of the so-called coal and iron
police. The peace agencies of county and
state. IL declares. should remain the reliance
of corporation and citizens and there
shou-. be no independent organizations of
armed men, which invite reprisals by the
strikers and foment disorder.
This report should be distributed by the
millions of copies throughout the country.
1t makes for better understanding not
alone OF the intricate conditions of anthra-
cite mining, but OF the complex problem Of
labor and capital III its recommendations
are faithfully executed 1t makes finally for
law and order, for rational adjustments
and for uninterrupted industry.
Miss Ellen Stone is not making a great
deal of money lecturing. The brigands ap-
near to have cleaned up all the profits there