The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-23
REASON FOR
MINE BODY
DISCUSSED
William Green, Secretary De-
tends Organization of
Coal Diggers.
By WILLIAM GREEN,

Secretary, United Mine Workers OF
America.
SIDE from the purely COM
a mercial aspect of the matter,
S there is the humane phase of
1t which cannot be overlooked. The
only capital which the miner has to
invest is his labor and the only pro-
lection he possesses is his economic
power. He can only successfully
exercise his economic strength through
organization. Through organization
he has raised his living stand
ards. secured protective legisla-
ton and promoted his moral and
material welfare. Without organiza-
ton the condition of the mine work
ers would be deplorable indeed.
While most employers wish to treat
their employees fairly and establish
decent living standards among them.
there are some who still believe in
the master and servant rule, who re-
gard labor as a commodity to be pur-
chased at the lowest possible price
and to be exploited at will. AS in
every industry. therefore, there are
in the mining industry good and bad
employers, none of which should have
the authority arbitrarily to fix the
wages and working conditions which
their employees must accept.
Each Has Rights
Those who work and serve in indus
try are as essential to success as those
who operate and manage tho indus
try. Each has rights which the other
should respect. Neither should be-
come a dictator, because that would
be autocracy in industry, something
which is repugnant to the American
sense of fair play.
The success of the coal industry
and, in fact, that of every industrial
enterprise must rest securely upon
the fundamental principle Of coopera-
ton and good will The relationship
Of employer and employee ought to
be harmonious and reciprocal in all
that pertains to their common welfare.
There should be perfect understanding
ard thorough cooperation. This can
be brought about in the coal industry
through complete organization and
collective bargaining based upon union
recognition.
Union Means Stability
Summing it all up. union recognition
means collective bargaining. wage
contracts for fixed periods of time.
efficiency, the substitution OF reason
and business methods for force and
subjection, and the establishment OF
stability in industry resulting in
guaranteed production. while non
unionism means inefficiency, un-
certainty, industrial guerrilla warfare,
strikes Cbeacuse men long held in sub
lection will ultimately fight for the
right to belong to a union and for
union recognitionl, and the lowering
Of the American standard of citizen
ship
Human experience shows that re-
sponsibility sobers men so that they Sc
riously consider their obligations and
duties to themselves and their fellow
men, They hesitate under the weight
of such responsibilities TO incur public
displeasure and to fly in the face Of
public opinion. Then back of it all is
the powerful Irresistible force Of
public sentiment II Is the court
which after all, compels recognition.
No organization or group Of men can
successfully carry out a movement
which is opposed to public sentiment.
and vice versa. organizations and
groups OF men are compelled to re-
spond to- the demand of crystallized
public opinion in an affirmative way.