The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-04

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"To reduce the maximum number Of
hours which "A breaker may work each
day. AZ demanded by the miners, will
certainly reduce the capacity of the an
thracite mines and will surely increase
the danger of a coal shortage at the
time of year when an increased produce
ton is required by the consumer of
coal.
THE employees In the anthracite
mines have abundant opportunity for
social recreation. II the higher cost
Of living liz the reason for the demands
OF the anthracite employees the work
men certainly should be willing to give
the same thrift, lime and energy IA
heretofore. There IL nothing in this
demand which will increase their an
nual compensation. On the other hand.
the cost OF maintaining, pumping out.
ventilating and timbering the anthra-
cite mines IL a continuous expense and
any reduction in output of the mines
must increase the cost OF producing
coal.
"A complete recognition Of the United
Mine Workers Of America in districts
Nos. I, I and 9 is demanded. The an
thracite coal strike commission declared
that the constitution of the United Mine
Workers did not Offer inviting induce
ments to enter into contractual relations
with Il, and the commission declined
to order the recognition Of the union
THE operators asserted at that time.
and they continue to assert, that they
have no objection to their employees
Joining the union or labor organization
Under the award OF the anthracite
coal strike commission there IL no dis
elimination between union and non
union men. The Operators believe
that the rights of organized labor are
fully protected by he open shop prin-
cipie established by the commission,
which declined TO approved "A closed
shop arrangement such as Is now pro-
posed, involving practically the compul-
sorry membership of all employees in an
organization. Ia the words OF the COM
mission, the contention that 4 majority
of employees by voluntarily forming a
union acquire authority over others is
uut.nabIe' and ~ Abraham Lincoln
said NO man il good enough 10 govern
another man without that others CON
sent
Union ecOg nitiOO.
Their further unwillingness To recos-
uize and deal with the tnlted Mine
workers. as then and as AZ present con
Stltuteu. VAS VIZ wv '"''
ma iority Of the members Of the union
we're employed in the hituminous coal
fields. that the organization Was ON
c.r.d chiefly by bituminous coal men
and that to deal with them would be
dealing with an organization controlled
by men engaged in a rival industry
"The commission based its award upon
these contentious. which were SUSTAINED
bv evidence. The REFORMS IN tn" cOistl-
- ,la ntta MING NJ =
which were recommended by the com
mission have not been effected. II Is
unreasonable To subject the anthracite
region to the politics of an organization
absolutely controlled from the "u'slue'
The full recognition, a. demanded bN
the miners. involves the check on "tith
means the compulsory collection ny the
operators Of u dues. assessments &c
AS ma, be assessed against the miners
nv union officials, an n-American rae
tlCe.
"our Investigations IN the hlilmlnous
field fail to show any place Wh.t" re'"g-
milton OF the tuited Mine Norhtts :"
America has secured the common here-
uts-the elimination Of strikes. promo
ton of peac. and the speedy settlement
of disputes-which II l. said VIII Ne &C
,omplished If granted FOR IN" ahthra'l'e
region.
"Th. miners give as "A reason for TINS
demand that the present system, grow
ing out Of contract provisions between
miners and operators. ~ antiqnated.
This explanation is not Ia strict a'.
cord with the facts. Tho present nieth"d
OF settling differences has not grown out
OF contract provisions between miners
and operators. II was Imposed upon
the miners and operators IN IN" an'hfh-
cite region 10y the \nthtarlt" Coal
...f.- decentralization - 4. I.Ff tF ~
award. which provided a board Of con-
citation. through the operation of which
strikes and lo'kouts should become u"-
necessary.