The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-06-26
MINERS DO RIGHT.


There is a threatened oekout of the
10000 or $4,000 union coal miners In
the state of Illinois Tle operators
have delivered an ultlma1um to the
miners that unless they negotiate a
new agreement before June so, all tn
miners in the state under the juris
diction of the Illinois Operators asso
cist on viii be closed. The operators
demand that thu miners reimburse
them the amount that win be involved
III the employment Of expert shot fir
ers under tho law passed by tie last
legislature and WI CHI goes into ef.
feet July i.
The operators have assumed that
The miners are wrong in not yielding
no the demands of the operators, and
have proceeded to deal arbitrarily wits
the miners and to force them to ac-
celc 10 their demands. The operators
as yet show no inclination to be fair.
but say to the miners, you must do
as We say The miners in reply have
been more t1an fair and have come out
lsquarely and fairly W tn a counter
proposition to the operators thin; the
matter be amieably adjusted. that the
question be left to arbitration, and tina
lpending the arbitration Of the trouble
/ the mines continue operation on the
Id has S. a
What could be more complete If
lts fairness or more commercial.
from d standpoint " honor? The min
lers have suggested that Governor Dc
lneen be accepted as arb /
he operators do not agree ID thi.
l!ap, then .ic miners auggest that tvs
lminers and two operators form a CON
mission to arbItrato the trouble, am
lin the event this commission doas no
agree. hat it be empowered TO nam'
HI fifth man whose decision shall b
final.
The miners evidently want to d
he right thing BY the operators; the
I .sant to do the right thing by them
| selves, and they want 10 do the RICH
II thing by the public
After ali Is said and done, the pull
lie is actually the most vitality import
ant factor to the controversy and e,
fpacially should 1t eliminate in d loci
)u. and suspension Of mining sue
a lockout would work irreparable |
Jury to the state It would crippl
! industries and directly and ind.rectl
J do the people an injury. which the pei
7 pie should not be compelled to endur
simply because the miners or the ope
t ators may be trying to gain an unfa.
! advantage one Of the othe-.
Now that tle miners have take
he initiative and offered to settle tn
t question by arbitration, should tn
operators refuse this amieable plan
. adjustment Of the difficulty, the ei
i ire guilt for injustice done the peopl
mi the state would rest with the ope
( itors The employers can ill-afrord
j this time 10 deal unfa rly with the co
/. sumner Of coal and with the poop
) and The industries upon wlich the
I depend for so much. Had the minel
declined to make the fair and squai
/ Eoffer they have made, the operator
! might have had some excuse for r
Ifusai to arbitrate, but now the fu
, responsibility rests with the oper
i TORS They should at least be as IA
!, with the miners as the miners ha'
: been vita the operators and TIL
would a disastrous lockout be aver
"a, millions saved in money, sufferir
prevented which such loclS-outs alwa
Involve, the innocent being usually Il
most severe sufferers, and both mine
I and operators by accepting peace W
win the approval and congratulate
of the people and the state. To t
y miners at this time Is sincere congr'
II uation due for their present man
y fair and busnesslike attitude.
= Springfield State Register