The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-10
OPPOSED TO UNION
Mr.. Lenahan of Wilkesbarre Makes
Argument for the Non
Union Miners.
The Operators Anxious to Conduct
Their Own Business in Their
Own Way.

Philadelphia, Feb. 1O-President Baer
Of the Reading company was an atten-
tive listener to the arguments presented
to-day before the anthracite coal strike
commission The nonunion miners
through Attorney John t. Lenahan of
Wilkesbarre expressed their disapproval
of the principles and practices of the
United Mine Workers..
Mr.. Lenahan in his argument, presented
three propositions. He submitted that
the commission must find the United Mine
Workers responsible for the violence and
other unlawful acts which deprived th,
nom 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
finding by the commission that union
miners must deal with their employers
through the medium of the union or be
subject in the slightest degree to the con-
troll or dictation of the union. After pre-
senting these propositions Mr. Lenahan
said in part:
1T follows as necessary conclusion
from admitting the principle that non.
union miners must be permitted to work
without unlawful interference from fellow
workmen that they must not be made TO
deal with their employers through the
medium Of the union. In the eyes of the
law no distinction can exist between union
fellow servants OF a common employer.
The majority may make such secret
agreements among themselves as they
please. But such agreements cannot
affect the rights of the minority, no mat
ter how small it may be. There can be
no such thing as the majority rule among
fellow Workmcn in common employ
ment. 1t is the admitted right Of ma
jority Of stockholders in a corporation to
dictate the policy Of the company even
though contrary to the wishes of some
stockholders who thereby might suffer
loss. But all the servants Of one master
remain individuals under our law and
yield nothing of their rights. to a ma
jority Of their co-employes. ~
How then could 1t be possible for this
commission to admit the right Of the
United Mine Workers to contract on be-
half Of non union employees with a COM
mon employer? If it were possible, is it
likely that non-union miners would re-
ceive fair treatment at the hands OF those
embittered by prejudice and anxious to
monopollze all the positions they hold?
AS is well known, there are diametrical diff
ferences of opinion on many subjects ap-
parently affecting their common interests
between union and non-union men in all
occupations. The rules of trades unions
are framed on the principle not merely Of
dictation by the majority of the minority
among fellow employees of one employer
but of such dictation by the majority of
all workmen engaged in particular oc-
cupation.
1.-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 greater number.
We agree that the law does not prohibit
such combinations when voluntarily &C
copied. What we deny is that any work.
man can be coerced into accepting them
hiS ic dana n Fir,.J
he is deprived of that liberty of action
which the law guarantees to him. The
union presents as one of Its essential
claims before this commission a demand
that the mine owners shall accept the
union as a representative of the miners
and fix the rights of both union and non
union miners by conceding it's demands.
We deny this right and earnestly protest
that it cannot be conceded by the COM
mission without a distinct and deliberate
violation of law
James H. Torrey of Scranton, counsel
for the Delaware & Hudson, argued
against the demands of the miners He
paid particular attention to the fourth de-
mand for a trade agreement. The opera
tors, he said, were opposed to this meth
cd because they believed they should be
permitted to conduct their business in
their own way, and because the United
Mine Workers Of America is an irrespon-
sible organization. They object also to
an organization composed partly of soft
coal miners attempting to control the an
thracite industry.