Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-06


enemy of the unions. Therefore
they can bring Baer to his knee.. 4
IL were. and compel him 10 meet q Dc
egation from the unions on an eous
'ooting, 1t will be sufficient triump
ma they will be willing TO renew III
tompronise agreement arranged b
he Roosevelt commission for snothe
three years.
| Inc result of the work Of the Roose
'elt commission. I am told on ever,
side, is eminently satisfactory 70 ever,
person in the coal regions except MI
i'aer and John Markie--and the Ia,
Ter does not count Every other oper
ator, no matter what bis attitude mn,
rave been in the beginning, Is nov
"Hhhg to admit the wisdom Of Pres
dent Roosevelt's Intervention and th,
airness OF the commission presided
Ner by Judge Gray. The compromise
which they arranged has produced AZ
'imost ideal condition of sfairs
throughout the entire enthracite re
sion, as universally satisfactory as any
arrangement could possibly be
Everybody is prosperous. every man
Fho is willing to work can make good
wages, everything is running smooth.
between the operators and the min.
ers. and the operators are Kettinu
good prices for, their coal-at the ex.
pense of the public.
| The miners gained: On A 10 nor
cent advance in their wages: f2l . "a.
inction of from ten to nine hours
per day; C3) the abolition of the prac.
| 'ice Oh paying In store orders. now get.
| ing their pay In cas- and trading
! where they please: ~ a conc,liation
| ooard composed Of three supertnten.
uents and three miners selected nv
the unions for the settlement NJ all
disputes.
lhere are no longer local troubles
or petty causes of irritation. There
are no disputes between EMPLOYERS
nd individuals or employers and
lhions. Every difference Is submitted
to the conciliation board and its dc.
olsions nave been satisfactory. gen.
eraliy speaking, in every case. They
nave been cordially accepted by the
operators and the men, and In nearly
every instance have been unanimous
Where the representatives Of the on
orators and those OF the miners have
not oeen able to agree. they have call.
"a IN an umpire-usualiy Judge Gray
oi Delaware. Or Carroll D. Wright.
formerly commissioner Of labor and
now president Of Clark University at
worcester, Mass. Everybody l have
'aiked with admits that the judgments
of the nmpires have, without except.
iono been fair and just. It Ia also
Universally admitted that the con.
ciiiation plan has promoted mutual
respect and confidence. There has
never been a better feeling between
Tie operators and their employeA
The effect upon the public has been
IN advance In the price Of coal, but
has stimulated confidence in the prsc-
iloability of arbitration as a method
pf settling disputes. l do not believe
here has ever been a more notable
Illustration of the ADVANTAGES Of the
arbitration plan.
There is no difference Of ooinion
20 the advance of wages. II was made
ehtifeiy at the expense OF the public,
md not at the expense OF the opera.
tors or the transportation companies.
Ihe freight charges and the profits
)l the mine owners are tust as high
Is OF higher than they ever were. and
-he difference in wages Is paid by you
z1,,
hard coal, All the mining towns looh
prosperous. The workmen are well
dressed: their wives and children have
plenty to eat and to wear; many
nave lace curtains In the wtpdows.
BRUSSELS carpets on the floors and pi-
AMOS in the parlors. Their self-res.
pect has increased With their material
Improvement
There is, however. difference OF
opinion as to the moral benefits OF re
ducing the working hours The mum
Der OF saloons in the anthracite dis
Iricts has Increased during the past
wo Years very considerably. The mum.
Der of licenses to sell liquor, am
informed, was is per cent greater
turing the fiscal year ending June
30, 1905, than 1t was in the previous
year and 80 per cent. greater than Il
was in 1902. This increase In the mum
Der of drinking places is no doubt
very largely the natural result Of the
prosperity of the miners, but many as.
sert that 1t is more directly due to
the Increased leisure allowed by the
reduction Of the working day from ten
10 nine hours. II Is also asserted that
The moral tone Of the most prosperous
communities is not so high as It used
TO be. This opinion prevails eenerally
among the clergy, school teachers
charity workers and temperance lead
ers of the mining regions. II was e1
pressed In a letter which the Pre.i
dent reaed in his speech at Wilkes
barre last August at the annivessar,
Of the Catholic Temperance Society
This letter created a distinct senss,
ton. The President did not mentio,
the name of the writer. but descrih
ed him as "a Catholic priest whom
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