The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-03
THE OPPORTUNITY OF JOHN
MITCHELLS LIFE.
Tn-haY,s Conference.

WV hNiF vi AhiNA 49,
owners and operators, represented 1t Is
understood, by Mr.. Baer. bids fair to be i'm
portant enough simply as looking toward
the settlement or averting OF the strike now
threatened. To those who try TO take q
broad view Of the whole matter under con-
sideration this conference may perhaps De
of transcendent Importance in the industrial
history Of the United States; II Ia not impos-
slble that II may mark an actual crisis from
which great businesses Of the land can enter
upon d new epoch-whether for better or
worse remains to be seen. 1t il to be ear
nestly hoped that both parties to the con
ference realize the profound Significance or
the meeting.
In the first place Mr.. Mitchell according
to newspaper dispatches. asked this con-
ference for the purpose Of further consider
ing the wage scale in the anthracite field.
1t will be noted at once that not a WORD IL
said about the employment OF none but union
workmen. That is the cruX OF the matter
as / Zee it now. II Mr.. Mitchell has finally
determined to cast of the shackles that have
bound him thus far to the theory that no mar
should be given work in the mines unless pc
longing to a labor union-whether or not he
desires membership therein-then has Mr..
Mitchell, at one splendid bound. lifted him
self from the ranks of eelf-deluded labor
agltators and attained a plane akin to that
of high statesmanship. The American peo-
pie as a whole are not particularly concerned
in the rates Of pay and hours Of work at the
coal mines, although we all are DESTROYS OF
the highest possible profit for all engaged In
mining. shipping, carrying and consuming
the fuel. But every one who knows the diff
ference between liberty and tyranny Ia deeply
and personally interested In the question Of
the right OF any man to do honest work when
he can get 1t. regardless Of unions or other
organizations As has been pointed out in
THE Sun over and over again. there Is no
matter of more vital consequence to our
people than the principle involved herein.
Let us consider now what may happen II
Mr.. Mitchell really does go into this con-
ference and state at tho outset that the United
Mine Workers withdraw their demand as TO
exclusive employment Of union labor. The
news would be flashed into every city, town
and hamlet in the United States; a great wave
of congratulatIon and hearty approval would
sweep toward the men he represents; over
whelming public sympathy would be theirs
now and for years to come, and Mr.. Mitchell
himself would gain an honored place in his
tory.
Let Mr.. Mitchell say frankly and boldly:
Gentlemen. We want no strike: we want
no reign Of lawlessness, we want no riots.
murders. laid to our doors. nor the calling Of
armed troops into our field of industry. But
we do want fair treatment and a square deal.
III OTueT 10 nuke sure Oh tIllS, yes, 10 conn
mand it from you, we hereby, at the outset,
withdraw our demand that none but mem
bers OF the United Mine Workers be en-
ployed. And from this day forth our mem
bers will peac efully work alongside every
honest, capable man you may wish TO en-
ploy, be he union or non-union."
Does any sane man doubt that Mr.. Mitchell
would instantly gain everything in reason
that he might ask for his followers7 Can
any one doubt that not merely he himself
but the hundred thousand In the union
would Immediately be lifted to a higher plane
In public estimation than they have ever
enioyed? That they would be regarded,
and rightly. az a bulwark Of our industrial
safety. instead Of q constant menace to the
body polite?
Jet Mr. Mitchell continue.
Furthermore. gentlemen, the United Mine
Workers have decid ed to put aside force. COM
puIsion even the appearance of intlmid alton,
In future we will not try to drag men into
orr organization. but we will make the organ
ization 80 valuable and attractive that no
minor or mine worker can afford to stay
outside the ranks. Also our requirements
for membership will be those of honor and
Observation-Disclosures. of skilled work in each
nhase Of mining and preparing anthracite:
or fair dealing with each other and with our
ou,lovors And nm those HIGH sta NJ
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