The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1914-12-24
MINE OPERATORS
ARE CRITICIZED


! Throwing the full blame for the con
tlnuance Of the Colorado strike upon
the mine operators. President Wilson
has announced the appointment Of a
commission of three to settle future
differences between operators and
miners. according to plan he proposed
some time ago and which the operators
ernphatically rejected.
In announcing his appointments the
president III formal statement ex-
pressed the hope that both parties
would see that interest and duty alike
directed them to use the commission
as an instrument for peace.
The presidents statement follows in
fun:
The strike of the miners in Colorado
which has now lasted for twelve
months has attracted the attention OF
the whole country and has been ac
companied by many distressing and
tragical circumstances. The mediation
Of the government Of the United States
was offered early in the struggle. hut
the operators of the mines were un
willing to avail themselves of it or to
act ON the suggestion made in the in
terest of peace by representatives OF
the department OF labor authorized by
statute 10 serve in such cases 1t be-
came necessary to send federal troops
to the district affected by the strike
in order to preserve the peace. but
their presence could of itself accom-
plish nothing affirmative.
After long waiting therefore. aud the
disappointment of many hopes, | ven
tured. after taking counsel with repre-
sentatives Of the government who had
been on-the Geld and made themselves
thoroughly familiar with all the cir.
cumstances of the case to propose a
plan of temporary settlement. to be put
into operation for a period of three
years and to afford means of amicable
consultation and adjustment between
the mine operators and their employ
ees. pending agreement upon such
terms and arrangements as might be
made the basis for permanently salts
factory relations between them.
'The plan seemed to me obviously
fair and sensible. The striking miners
promptly accepted it. but the mine op
orators rejected 1t, saying in response
10 my earnest appeal that they object
ed to it's most essential features-namc-
~. the proposed arrangements by
which the miners might state their
grievances through II committee and by
which differences might he settled by
reference to commission appointed
by the president of the United States
Il think tie country regretted their
decision and was disappointed that
they should have taken so uneompro-
missing q position. | have waited and
hoped for a change in their attitude,
but now fear that there will be none
And yet do not feel that am at lib
erty to do nothing in the presence Of
circumstances so serious and distress.
ing. Merely to withdraw the federal
troops and leave the situation TO clear
and settle itself would seem TO me to
be doing something less than my duty
after all that has occurred.
Il have therefore determined to APP
point the commission contemplated in
the plan of temporary settlement, not
withstanding the rejection of that plan
by the mine operators. and thus. at
least. to create the instrumentality by
which like troubles and disputes may
be amicably and honorably settled In
the near future. in the hope. the very
earnest and sincere hope. that both
parties may see it to be not merely TO
their own best interest. but also
duty which they owe TO the communi-
ties they serve and to- the nation it
self. to make use of this instrumental.
ty of peace and render strife of the
kind which has threatened the order
and prosperity of the great state of
Colorado thing of the past. impossi-
BILE of repetition so long as everything
is done in good temper and with the
genuine purpose to do justice and OBJ
serve every public rs well as every pri-
vate obligation.
THE Hon Seth Low of New York.
MIR. Charles w. Mills of Philadelphia
and MIR. Patrick Gilday of Clarified
Pa. have most generously and unself
ishly consented. at my request. to serve
as members of the commission. J owe
to these gentlemen my own warm
thanks not only. but also. believe. the
thanks Of their fellow citizens through
out the country. They will place them
selves at the service alike of the miners
and operators of the mines in Colorado
in case controversy between them in
the future should develop circum-
stances which would render mediation
the obvious way Of peace and just
settlement
Mr.. Low is president of the National
Civic federation: Mr.. Mills a Pennsyl-
yania mine operator. and Mr. Gilday