East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-08-29
THE ANTHRACITE MINERS

FAVE the coal miners overpayed their hand they
today occupy position far public opinion is con-
cerned which Compares to the of the big bust
monopoies regarded few ago? The stand
rather bitter editorial This real danger Labor has
its present position Of largely because has
for itself There indications that this sympathy being
withdrawn in cases And organization powerful wea
pom undenaby h loses when crippled by the loss of
the public's backing. The World speaks as follows:
So far the anthracite miners concerned every claim
they might have had public sympathy has been nued by
the conduct of their leaders at the Philadelphia conference
No agreement reached because the officials of the United
Mine Workers refused to to form Of arbitration at
expiration of temporary working scale The union leaders
ed to continue the old rate Of wages until March 81 1928
and then submit the question adjustments tony b
the officials Of the United Mine Workers who declined to con-
slider any terms but their own.
In presenting defense of his action President Lewis has
nothing better to offer than this:
Our offer in this respect by the brutaly frank
the anthracite operators that the price of such
agreement must be the arbitration of the wage scale at
stated periods. The mineworkers have declined to
chase peace at such cost.
This is labor unionsm mad The United Mine Workers.
the position that George took during
the strike 1902 when he insisted that the operators had moth
ing arbtrate and that their fiat anthracite
industry the publcbedamned attitude that all the
big corporations used to before they dubbed into
submission by the American people The United Mine Workers
have adopted the old Wall street slogan of nothing to arb
hae and they deserving of consideration than
Mr. Lewis and his associates gambling with the health and
welfare of millions of American citizens They gambling
with human life They condemning the most popuous
to of the United States all the dangers of winter without
fuel because they believe that they have the anthracite industry
by the throat and can compel submission.
If the anthracite operators whohad refused to submit
future scales to arbitration the country would be ringing
with denuncaon yet there any moral difference between
the John Lewis of 1922 and the George Baer of 1902 wei
should like to know what is The only material distinction isl
that capital then had the upper hand and organized labor
has the upper hand In both there the ruhes
power the indifference the general welfare the
contempt for public rights
The United MneW Workers in accepting adjournment of
the conference evidently waiting to whether they
count public support in the they have adopted They
shou dnot be kept doubt single day Their conduct who'll
arbitrary wholly ndefensbe Any community that sub
mtted to it without protest would deserve to freeze Twenty
the Baer taught their place respect the
public II time teach the Lewses
~~S~~~~~s~~~~~~~s
There of Grabbing from citizens that the
traffic regulations in Pendeton strictly enforced when
the city council met last Wednesday night Read the Monday
papers for reports of auto accidents consider yourself lucky
that not sewped hit headn and then obey the
traffic regulations the very letter If there any doubt how
far to nregard to observing road laws is the part
hiotism and atrus selfshnes play safe and give good
in taking of yourself and incidentally of the 9TH
eT fellow and his family well.