The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-01
MINERS ATTITUDE
WRONG, SAYS WHITE;
STRIKE NOT RIGHT
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE

EMPORIA. Kan, Oct. 31-The de-
sire of the mine owners to arbitrate
their differences with the miners has
been obvious for the past week But
it has also been obvious for the past
two weeks that public opinion would
not force the mine owners into the
arbitration. Whatever might be the
attitude Of the mine owners, the mine
workers have handled their publicity
badly. They have allowed the public
to feel that their demand for a six.
hour day and five-day week meant
serious curtailment Of the product
Of the miners. That Is, that It meant
either less coal or more men.
II the mine workers had made their
demand for a S00-day year. placing
that part of their contention foremost
ii they had shown that the six
hour day and the five-day week would
not cut down the amount Of coal
mined in a 300day year, but instead
would have increased the amount of
coal mined, the mine workers would
have had better standing with the
American public than they have But
the six-hour day and the five-day week
have been so thoroughly advertised
and SO energetically emphasized that
the American people feel that the
miners are stacking in an industrial
crisis, which is as serious as any
military crisis during the war
Miners Attitude Wrong
This is unfortunate, but it is the
least disastrous of the miners stra-
tegic moves. They have Haunted
their rights in the face Of the Ameri-
can people; have set themselves up
with sort Of providential arrogance
at this time by threatening to call a
coal strike at the beginning Of winter
So long as the mine workers have
plenty to eat, plenty to wear. a house
over them. they can have no possible
wrongs in civilized world which
would justify them in threatening the
comfort and health and the very life
OF millions of innocent people, ma
jority Of whom are women and chill
dren. The right of an innocent coal
consuming public to heat in the win
ter is a paramount right to any
abridged rights Of the striking miners
so long as they have the common COM
forts OF our civilization. When they
ruthlessly set their wrongs against
the lives Of their neighbors, they for
feited American good will.
l am inclined to believe that the
six-holV day and the five-day week,
coupled with a compulsory 3OO-day
year, are fair in the mining industry.
Five days underground a week and
six hours a day, five days in the week.
are about all any man can stand and
maintain his health and perform his
duty as father and citizen in this
particular industry.
49, y. Betray Just Cause 4
The coal mine workers who have
betrayed just cause at this time by
the brutal disregard Of the fellowmen
have sinned deeply against the cause
OF labor. They have given a rather
contemptuous and cynical group Of
la abor-baiters splendid opportunity
to produce reaction against progress
not merely in the mining industry, but
in all intensive industries. After all
we are neighbors here in America and
no neighbor has the right to threaten
the comfort and health and life of
his fellows because of grievance
which he has not tried to settle with
grievance may be.
This is written by one who believes
ardently in the cause OF American
trades unionism; one who. as an en-
oloyer, operates union shop, a
closed shop, but who feels that in this
situation the mine workers. union
leaders have handled their cause
badly.