The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-11-11


asked for increase in wages they were
refused.
In accord with the procedure specified
by the LemieuX Act, the miners applied
to the Minister of Labor for a concilia-
ton board. Mr.. Thomas II. Crothers,
who occupies that office, found that the
owners of the five mines could not or
would not agree upon the appointment
OF their representative on the board.
Because of this condition Mr.. Crothers
refused to appoint conciliation board
but appointed Royal Commission to in
vestigatc and report to the government.
The commissions award was largely in
accord with the mems conditions, but
the operators refused to accept it. The
miners then struck.
1t was stated on the floor of the Con-
gress that the Dominion government
consented to the release of number of
interned aliens from the detention camp
at Spirit Lake to replace the asbestos
strikers when it became evident that they
were likely to succeed. The government
thus went into the strike breaking busi-
ness under the Lemieux Act for the
purpose of defeating the asbestos miners
in their demand for restoration of
their wages which had been reduced
This action on the part of the Cana
dian government brings to mind a SINH
lar policy followed by the government
of New South Wales in the case of
strike among the gas workers. The
head of the government issued proc
lamation in which he called upon the
citizens of Sidney to meet the public
interest by aiding the government to
keep order" and to secure the gas sup
ply for the public The citizens, the So
called disinterested third part or the
public, responded to the call of the
Premier and volunteered as strike
breakers. Among them was the mayor
of the city, number of influential citi-
zen and students, who took turns at
the work of stokers
In discussing the strike Of the ashes
tos miners in the Dominion Trade and
Labor Congress, Delegate Rigg, of Win
nipeg, made the following statement:
These miners were told it would be
a criminal offense to strike. This was
the attitude towards the men at first.
Then their attitude switched on the
ground that because the five companies
couldn't agree on one man to represent
them, therefore no board could be grant
ed. They call it criminal offensc to
strike and yet when the companies re-
fuse to select one man the department
lies down.
"These interned aliens were sent to
take the places of the men to intimidate
them. They were to get So day, but
contained nothing and others bills show
tt1p I1n had aDtpt ,,f f1,n,
earned, and also that they owed the COM
pany $500 as WELL"
Another delegate, Mr. Fred Bancroft,
made the following statement:
"My belief is that the act has been
operated to the advantage of the en-
ployers. 1t was also we'll known that
the present Government has no inten-
ton of repeating it. The Government
unhesitatingly told Labor that it would
not insert the fair wage clause in mun
ton contracts. The act is not only
faulty in many ways, but is positively
rotten"
The action of the Canadian Trades
and Labor Congress, after an expert
ence of over nine years with the act,
expressing its mature and deliberate
judgment that the fundamental princ-
pies contained therein are subversive to
the best interests of the wage-earners,
is of great interest to the wage learners
and the citizens of the United States
1t is of particular interest and import
ance to the Wagc-earners and citizens
of Colorado. Colorado wage-earners,
after experience with similar act within
a period of little more than year, have
reached an identical conclusion with that
of the Canadian Trades and Labor Con-
gresS.
: Wherever any legislation has been en-
acted which establishes compulsory in
sttutions to abolish strikes and indus
trial disturbances, the legislation has al
ways proved to be failure. Not only
do such laws fail to abolish strikes, but
they encourage and generate spirit
that is not compatible with free insttu
tions, and are Subversive to the very
spirit of liberty and democracy.
Industrial peace lies in different di-
rection.
Industrial peace can not be secured
by any superficial agency grated upon
present conditions of industrial injus-
ticc.
The organized labor movement is do
ing more to secure industrial peace, to
abolish industrial injustice and indus
trial wrongs than any other organiza
ton.
The, way to greater progress lies