The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-02-14
N0N.UN|ON CONVENTIONS.
The Argument For the Non-Union
Miners Presented Before the
Strike Commission.
ATTORNEY ltNAHAN WAS THE ORATOR.
lie Argued the hight of Every Man,
Under Constitutional Guarantees,
to Work where, when, for What
Compensation and for whom He
PIeRses.

Philadelphia, Feb. ll.-President
Baer of the Reading company was an
attentive listener to the arguments
presented. Tuesday, before the an
thracite strike commission. The
non-union miners. through Attorney
John 4. Lenahan. of Wilkesbarre, ex'
pressed their disopproyal Of the prin
ciples and practices OF the United
Mine workers.
Mr.. Lenahan. in his argument, pre-
scented three propositions. He sub
mitted that the commission must ind
the United Mine Workers responsible
for the violence and other unlawful
acts which deprived the non-union
miners Of their lawful right 10 work
That all authorities agree that the
law guarantees to every man the
right 10 work, where, wien and for
whom he pleases, and that nothing
could Justify a finding by the com
mission that non-union miners must
deal with their employers through
the medium Of the union or be SUB
iected in the slightest degree TO the
control or dictation OF the union,
After presenting these propositions
Mr.. Lenahan said in part;
at follows as necessary conclu-
sion from admitting the principle
that non-union miners mast be per-
mitted to work without unlawful IN
reference from fellow workmen that
they must not be made TO deal WIN
their employers through the medium
Of the union. In the eyes OF the la"
no distinction can exist between
union and non-union labor
ers. They simply are feIlo"
servants of a common employer. The
majority may make such secret agree
ments among themselves as thy
please But such agreemn's can not
affect the rights of the minority, no
matter how stnall it may be, There
can be no such thing as the majority
rule among fellow workmen IN a
common employment, II Is the al
mitted right OF a ma jority OF stock
holders in q corporation to dictate
the policy OF the company even
though contrary to the wishes OF
some stockholders who thereby mlght
suffer loss. But all the servants ~
one master remain individuals under
our law, and yield nothing OF their
rights TO a majority OF their co-em'
ployes.
"How then, could it he possible for
this commission to admit the right or
the United Mine Workers TO contract
on behalf OF non-unon employees with
common employer? II IT were pos
.ible, is It likely that non'union mi
ners would receive fair treatment NJ
the hands OF those cmbittcrcd by pre-
iudice and anxious to monopoli>e all
the positions they hold" AS rs wen
known. there are dametrical diner
ences Of opinion on many subjects APP
parently affecting their common IN
tercsts between union and non-unlon
men in all occupations, The rules OF
trades unions are framed on the prin-
ciple not merely Of dictation by the
majority to the minority among Tel
low employees OF one employer, but OF
such dictatlon by the majority OF all
workmen engaged in a particular oc'
cupation.
"Thc freedom OF the individual 20
work only according TO the dictates
OF his own interests are made sub
seryicnt TO the supposed good OF the
greatest number, We agree that the
law does not prohibit such comblna'
lions or rules when voluntarily &c
ceptcd, Whit we do deny IL that any
workman can be coerccd into accept
ing them. When this IN done, directly
or indirectly, he Is deprived of that
liberty OF action which the law guar
untees to him, The union presents AZ
one Of It's essential claims before this
commission demand that the nine
owners shall accept the union ~ the
representative OF the miners and fix
the rights OF both union and non.
union miners by conccding It's de.
mands. We deny this right and earn.
estly protest that It can not be con.
ccdcd by the commission without o
distinct and deliberate violation Of