Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22

ployers and employees embodying the doc
trine OF collective bargaining is one which
the commission believe contains many
hopeful elements for the adjustment OF re-
lations in the mining region.
Further on they say: The present con-
stitution Of the United Mine Workers OF
America does not present the most invit-
ing inducements to the operators to enter
into contract relations with It."
The commission reported more than once
their inability to make an award on the
demand Of the miners for a recognition Of
their union because, they say, the union
is not a party to the submission.
Attention lie called to the fact that Mr..
Mitchell appeared before the commission
as the representative Of the anthracite coal
mine workers. and not in his Official capac-
ity They also call attention to the fact
that the agreement to arbitrate was
reached between the operators and a coal
miners convention.
Unions Matter of business.
The commissioner say that trades
unlonism" is rapidly becoming a matter OF
business. II the energy Of the employees is
directed to disbursement and repression
he need not be surprised II the more rad
zeal ones are the ones most frequently
heard.
They express the opinion that differences
can best be settled by consultation by the
employer with a committee chosen by his
employees but they add that in order to be
entitled to such recognition the labor or
ganization must give the same recognition
to the rights of the employer and Of others
which 1t demands for itself and for Its
members.
They add:
The union must not undertake to assume
or to interfere with the management OF
the business Of the employer.
They also announce as untenable the con-
tention that a majority of the employees of
an industry by voluntarily associating them
selves in a union acquire authority over
those who do not so associate themselves.
Blames Union Men for Lawlessness
Touching the question Of lawlessness,
boycotting and blacklisting. the commits
sioners say:
1t is admitted that disorder and lawless-
ness was incident to the strike. Its his
tory with a record of riot and b~loodshed
eliminating in three unprovoked murders:
Men who remained at work were assailed
and threatened, and they and their fami-
lies terrorized and inundated. In several
instances the houses OF such workmen were
dynamited and the lives of unoffending
women and children put in jeopardy. The
armed guards appear not to have been an
y BACNAoNAOht anu III bNNtA hAOA
Of the state was justified in calling out the
citizen soldiery.
1t is also true that the leaders Of the
organization which conducted the strike,
and notably its president, condemned all
violence and exhorted their followers to
sobriety and moderation. II would seem,
however, that the subordinate local organ
izations and their leaders were not sum-
GENTLY amenable to such coInsels as to
prevent the regrettable occurrence to which
reference has been made.
In making this arraignment we are not
unmindful of what appears to be the fact,
that the mine workers are, in the main,
well disposed and good citizens, and that
1t is In the power of the minority of less
responsible men and boys, together with
the idle and vicious unless properly re-
strained, to destroy the peace and good or
der of any community.
Regarding the boycott the commission
says:
Carried to the extent sometimes prac-
ticed in aid OF a strike, and as in some
instances practiced In connection with the
late anthracite strike, the boycott is a
cruel weapon of aggression, and its use
immoral and anti-social, and the concerted
attempt to accomplish it is a conspiracy
at common law and merits and should re-
ceive the punishment due to such a crime.