The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-04-24
MITCHELL TALKS FOR LABOR

The report of the anthracite coal
strike commission Is, on the whole,
fair and Just to the men and the or
ganiZation | represent. feel a great
degree of satisfaction in the fact that
u position has been sustained. The
award of the commission has increas-
ed wages, shortened hours, and eff
fected a general improvement in the
conditions of employment. True, we
did o get all we asked for; but it
was not reasonable to expect that the
commission would grant every one of
ed that in any final settlement, either
by direct negotiation or arbitration,
we should win at all points. Never
theless, under this award the anthra-
cite mine workers will receive a
greater measure of justice than was
ever before accorded them. A fact
of deep significance in this connec
ton is that the army of workers in
that field were never able to secure a
proper hearing until they had organ
ized. Not until they formed a union
we're they able to have their cas so
presented that the public could pass
Judgment upon it's merits. A demand
lOl ldUOl ltlOIm 10 llhC q maj "
any other reform-it can not win un-
less it is justifiable and is supported
by public opinion. We were not able
to induce the employers to take up
the case on it's merits; but the Amer
lean people did so take it up, and
they compelled the method of settle
ment which has led to such whole
some results.
% 49, .a.y NJ tIa ntfont and xrtfh
all possible emphasis, that | am in
full accord with the commission in its
condemnation of violence and intimi-
dation. Some OF these evils are per-
maps inevitable in any great labor
struggle, but have Always maintain.
ed that the worst enemy of Il cause
is the man who resorts to lawlessness.
Over and above the increase OF
wages and shortening of hours, OF
paramount importance is that feature
of the award which directs that wnen
grievances cannot be settled by di
rect negotiation between employees
and men, they shall be referred to a
joint board of Cancellation or arbitra'
ton. That is the very thing l have
always contended for. 1t is n of the
cardinal principles Of the United mine
workers.
Faithful observance by both opera
tors and miners of the award of the
commission will, in my judgment. Sc
cure many, many years OF industrial
peace in the anthracite region. This
may be called a bowling to the law;
and so far as we are concerned we
should have abided by the verdict OF
the commission, in good faith, if its
award had been against us instead OF
in our favor. 1t is more than likely
that at the end of the three years foi
which this award is made one side OF
the other, or both, may want some
changes in the wage scale. Such
changes should be arranged through
joint conference, and a new agree
ment for a term OF years entered
upon.
am aware that many men who are
friendly to organized labor as a mat
ter of principle, still fear that trades
unionism may become tyrannical ant
oppressive. But lney should not judge
by isolated instances or petty annoy
ances. Trades unionism has done
great work in taking children out Of
factories, in raising the age limit, in
securing compulsory education anc
other reforms. 1t has done more lnaI
any otner agency to lift up the stand
ard of labor and Of comfort.
The fear that the rise of trades
unionism will become a menace t.
society, to government or to socia
order is utterly fallacious. Unions
are a part of the people of the United
States-the patriotic, industrious PEG
pie. AS a labor man l say that the
stronger they grow the more conser
vative they become. This tendency
l hope and believe, will continue in
definitely. The best friends of organ
lied labor are those who believe ant
who teach that it can thrive only b.
being right, by being moderate ant
just, and by feeling and meeting it
responsibility as n of the grea
forces of our citizenship and indus
trialism.-John Mitchell in Collier
Weekly.
A mar will promise his wife almos
anything in public if it will only keel