The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-10
LABOR SITUATION.


mittee on mines and mining are now
actually engaged in the work of inyestI-
eating the strikes Of the coal miners in
Colorado and the copper mines in
Michigan, ihc United Mine Workers be-
ing involved in ono case and the West
ern Federation of Miners in the other.
Both arc rich aud powerful unions, and
there is no lack of funds to employ
counsel or procure. witnesses. The mine
owners. of course, Will be able to hold
up their end in both particulars.
I; is TO be hoped both subcommlttees
will be able TO uncover all the
facts in both eases, The causes leading
uu 10 tho strike being of prime I'M
portsnce. for upon the showing made IN
this respect the miners must depend for
Justification in quitting work. The in
qnirv should be exhaustive upon the
subject OF mine guards and pickets,
and the country should be given the
facts about the many murders in con
ncctiou with these strikes in both Colo
RADIO and Michigan.
The Investigation OF the coal mine
troubles in West Virginia by sub
committee Of senators opened the eyes
ci The people Of the country TO some e1-
trut. and working conditions on Paint
aud Cabin creeks have no doubt been
vastly improved as result Of the pub
!icity given ibc matter.
ii the mine owners of Michigan aud
Colcrado arc blsnsbc sll along the line
for the strikes and the rioting that fol
lcwcd. let tho world know it; if the
mincIs are al fault. Let the fact be ex
plcitly set forth IN any event Let the
reports he free from prejudice ou either
side of tho labor dispute and let there
be no attempt 10 play politics in so
grave matter.
Say what YOU will, the labor question
is becoming more important as well as
more difficult of solution each wear.
Millions uf men and women are born TO
toll in The mioes and factories, and
there Is NO escape ror vast majority y
vi them. Tbey must work until death
relieves them. Work, indeed is The
sor1mou lot. Man has been compelled
to struggle Tor existence since the be
ginning. aud tho struggle will not end
20 long - the world sbuIl last.
This being so. il is but natural and
proper That the burdens be not TOO
heavy; that the wives and families Of
those who toll be not compelled to pass
their lives in squalor, misery and
ignorance; that due attention be paid
10 the laws Of sanitation and that the
elements Of disease and danger be re.
moved rs far as possible in all the oc-
cupatiors. The laborer is worthy OF
his birc; therefore be should at least
hc treated like human being
On the other hand. the professional
agilators, the men who 20 from place
Ia place breeding discomfort and
preaching anarchy, should be sup
pressed. Their purpose is not to
ameliorate the condition OF the work.
ing nan, but 70 plunge civilization bach
into the chaos from which IL emerged
after long centuries of darkness and
suffering. Give the men who Toll q
respectful hearing aud right tbeil
wrongs, but stamp out the anarchist
with iron heel. Another thing that
should be done, and that at once, is tn,
regulation of the sale of firearms. Tb,
spectacle Of battles in the streets or il
the mountains between mine guards
and strikers is not pleasing to tn,
lovers of law and order. Let all thing.
be done decently and in order, and tn,
strikes Of The future, if they cannot b,
avoided, be settled without the shed
ding Of blood.
1t is impossible TO forecast what th
law makers of the states aud the ma
tional congress will do to better presen
conditions. That something should b.
done goes without saying. Secretary o
Labor Wilson. in an address Sunda,
afternoon before the Young Men :
Christian Association at Springfield
Mass, took the stand that compulsor,
arbitration sis contrary to the spiri
of human freedom.' Yet the Unitet
States is trying to make treaties witt
all the nations of the world embodyin;
this very principle.
A new era has been heralded in tb
United States. The vast power lodge'
in the hands of the New York banker
's 10 hc curhcd: She giant corporation