The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-03

Tho present arrangement, or agree
ment, was drafted and provided by the
Anthracite Strike Commission appointed
by Mr.. ROOSEVELT. Mr.. WILL cox says:
Tho employers have no desire to disturb these
results. which have been 40 painfully and expsn.
sivey reached by arbitration, and are perfectly
willing 10 continue the present arrangements In.
definitely"
We have no reason to doubt that Mr..
WILCOX speaks with authority, al
though unofi1cially, as representative
OF the operators. It Is impossible to
believe that he would speak thus openly
and definitely II there were in contem-
plation any plan for reduction Of wages.
increase Of working time or any i'm
position which might work unfavorably
to the miners. II there Ia no intent on
the part Of the operators to change
existing conditiona only one inference
Is possible. That IL that the miners
are preparing for struggle which would,
II successful, change those conditions
to their advantage. Otherwise all dan
ger might be averted and all public
apprehension allayed by q conference
between Mr.. MITCHELL, representing
the miners, and Mr. WILCOX and others,
representing the operators, and public
announcement that both sides were
content, for one, two or three years, to
abide by the presumably fair and equi-
table decision OF the Strike Commission.
In view Of the specific statement pub
licly made by Mr.. WILCOX We must
regard the present active unionist agita-
ton in the coal areas as at least ominous.
notwithstanding the denials made by
Mr.. MITCHELL. We have no intention
of impugning either his honesty or his
sincerity. but with 80 plain a state
ment from those whom he regards as
his opponents it Is difficult to account
for the activity OF Mr.. MITCHELL and
his associates simply on the ground
OF a necessary self-defense. Where no
attack is contemplated no defense Is
necessary.
BY citations from Mr.. MITcHELL's
work on Organized Labor Mr.. WILCOX
shows the dissent of the labor leader
from the findings of the Strike Com
mission. He quotes from page 392 OF
that work statement that the findings
Of the commission show upon the
whole lack of appreciation Of some OF
the fundamental principles OF unionism,
and are based upon premises which
cannot be maintained" In other words,
Mr.. M1TcHELL's sole contention Is for
unionism, even for that compulsory
unionism for which he stands so strongly
on page 2s3 and thereafter in his book.
Yet the report Of the commission ap-
pointed by the President contains this
emphatic declaration Of principles:
The nigh. TO remain At work where others have
ceased 70 work or TO engage anew In work which
others have abandoned V part OF the personal
liberty Of . citizen that never DO surrendered.
and every infringement thereof merits and should
receive the stern announcement OF thehw.
Common sense and common law alike denounce
the conduct OF those who interfere With this fundA-
mental hight OF the citizen"
The unionism OF JOHN MITCHELL,
like that Of the only less distinguished
CORNELIUS SHEA, regards such views
as fallaoy, and insists upon mobiliza-
ton Of forces and an accumulation OF
funds for the purpose Of battling with
employers and forcing into idleness
thousands Of men who are ready and
willing to work.
In view OF the statement so explicitly
made by Mr.. WILCOX, which he cannot
now honorably retraot, it would be
in order for Mr.. MITCHELL to square
himself with the American people by
announcing for his organization his
approval and acceptance OF the terms
declared to be fair and just by the Presi-
dents own commission. precisely as Mr..
WILCOX has done. Otherwise he must
show to the satisfaction Of the public
that Mr.. WILCOX and his associates are
wrong, that the Anthracite Strike Com
mission was wrong and that Mr. RoosE-
WELT was wrong. By meeting Mr..
WILCOX on the plane Of acceptance Of
the determination of that commission
Mr.. MITCHELL can do much to allay
now widespread public apprehension.
Ea1h<in0 Tronical nhaAaasa