The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-21
John Mitchell Says the Poorest
Workman Should Have 5000 Year
Head United Mine Workers the Above Reasonable
Frank an Discusses Laborins
eds..See No in Sharing

does. do more work in eight hours than in
How do you know that, Mr. Mitchell?"
1 asked. Has II ever been tested?'
Yes, was the reply. In the Illinois
coal mines the time was cut from ten hours
to eight. After that the product was meas
ured and the eight-hour time produced as
much as the ten-hour time.
but was that due TO the freshness Of
the men or 10 the fact that the bosses had
TO get more Work and rushed them
harder?"
1T was largely due TO the freshness of
the men," said Mr.. Mitchell, although
will say that the opera tors knowing that
they must have greater output per hour
proved the facilities OF rapid mining.
There is no doubt but that the eight
hour day reduces drunkenness, Mar. Mitch
ell went on. In those towns in Illinois
where ii has been adopted there is now
higher standard of living and a the same
time less drunkenness and fewer saloons.
Ihls is so notwithstanding wages nave
risen. The man who works ten hours
comes home tired out. He is in no condi-
ton for rational enjoyment and he wants
TO go either to the saloons or TO bed
But VIII not less hours be demanded II
eight hours are given?' L asked.
Il think not" was the reply. II do not
expect TO see less than an eight-hour day
In my lifetime. We may have a forty-four-
hour week-that is, eight hours for five
days of the week and a half holiday Sat
urday. That is not unreasonable. Indeed,
work in certain parts of the country"
Speaking of wages, Mr.. Mitchell, what
do you think of Carroll d. Wright's idea
that the wage system will pass away, and
one OF prott sharing will take its placer
Il don't think ii is practical replied Mr..
Mitchell 1T would be difficult 10 make
an equitable prorit-sharins arrangement.
think that wages will rise as time goes on,
and in that way labor will get more of its
share of the profits, but as to a direct part
nership with capital, L don't think it ad-
visabe."
why not?" 1 asked.
I'VE should have to have a different
scale OF profits for every factory, and this
scale would rise and fall with the business.
Labor would not be content with its share
and capital would not be satisfied. The
two elements must always be 10 a certain
extent antagonistic, although they are as
Soc1ated together"
do you think workmen ought to have
stock in the factories where they work?"
Il doubt it. The little stock they hold
cannot have weight in matters relating to
the business. 1t hampers their action. The
laDoring mans greatest capital is his own
muscle and brains. He relies upon them
for daily dividends. They are his best in
VeStment and the one he should take most
care of. Any interest he has in the estab-
lishment TO which he is selling his muscle
and brain will be often vitality opposed TO
this sale. In other words he has 10 work
against himself. L think he ought TO keep
out of all bsuiness connections with those
who pay his wages"
UNITED STATES STEEL COMPANY.
How about the United States Steel Com
pany's plan?"
Il think it has been a failure" said Mr..
Mitchell 'The managers of the company
acted very generously and intended TO ben
eft the men when they gave them the
right to buy a certain amount of their pre-
ferred stock at $3.50 a share. They thought,
and the men who invested thought too,
that the stock would increase in value and
would pay good dividends right along Since
then it has gone down more than S25 per
share. L think the steel company has
acted very fairly with the men. They will
get their dividends, but 1t will be a long
uime before they can be paid back what
they have put in
How about unions in the government
service, Mr.. Mitchell?' / asked
Il see no reason against them," replied
Mr.. Mitchell. Il mean among all classes
of governmental clerks whose duties are
not OF a confidential nature. Men and wom-
en- who are working for the government
in the ordinary way have perfect right
TO combine
Take the government printers, for in
Yes replied Mr. Mitchell They ought
to have a union and manage their affairs
on union lines just the same as though
they were working for an individual.
How about the mail clerks?"
1.-THE same"
How about the army?"
THE army as We view it, said Mr..
Mitchell, docs not demand skilled labor
l see no reason why it should have unions
and yet see no reason why the soldiers
should not combine to ask the government
for more wages and other privileges
How about politics; shall we ever have
a labor PreSident?
81 don't know about that" said Mr.
Mitchell, IF the times come and the man,
it may be, but If so ii will be by fair and
legitimate means. Abraham Lincoln was
a laboring man. He stood for all that we
stand for and he might have been our
candidate
Just one question more, Mr. MITCHELL ~
said L. What are the rights of the non
union man?
He has all the rights of any individual
under the law" was the reply.
But the unions will not permit him to
exercise them," said l.
Il do not think you are right" replied the
president of the United Mine Workers.
THE unions do not molest the nonunion
cases now and then it is true, where in
diVidualS have been ill-treated but il has
been by individuals and not by the unions
as such. great deal has been said about
such outrages and the deaths caused by
them. There have not been as many such
deaths in thirty years as ordinarily occur
in New York in three months-not as
much of such disorder in twenty years as
is caused by other things in New York
city in one month. No, the older of the
unions, and indeed all of the unions, re-
gret such actions. We claim our right to
persuade the nonunon man not to work
and to argue with him by word of mouth
but not to force him in any way We
claim the right not to work with him, if
we so desire, and not to recognize him or
fraternize with him..
FRANK G. CARPENTER.