Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-09-26
WALTER G. MERRITT
DISCUSSES COAL STRIKE
Shows Operators Side. Reveals
Abandonment Of Principle Of
Arbitration By Miners

are approaching, an anthracite strike
is on, and efforts being made to inf
ence the bituminous workers to walk
out.
A very interesting pamphlet has
just been issued containing a clear
statement 'of the situation existing
between the operators and the work
ers for more than twenty years. This
was made before the New York State
Retail Coal Dealers Association at
Richfeld Springs, N. Y, by Walter
Gordon Merritt, counsel for the An
thracite Operators Conference.
He seeks to show who is responsible
for the social disorder in the anthra-
cite field. He shows that it is almost
impossible to conduct any business
without differences arising. These
happened between the coal operators
and the workers; and in the beginning
the United Mine Workers declared
that all disputes should be settled by
arbitration.
Mr.. Merritt quotes repeatedly from
the official organ of the workers, and
as far back as 1902 they declared that
their object was "to use all honorable
means to maintain peace between our
selves and our employers; adjusting
I'll differences, so far as possible, ly
arbitration and cancellation, that
strikes may become unnecessary"
This same sentiment was expresc d
by John Mitchell, president of tie
United Mine Workers, and the Execu-
tive Council of the American Feder-
alton cf Labor was in line with idell-
Nical expressions. Furthermore, these
Hrgah- -ations, by reason of their adj
herence to the principle of arbitration,
were disposed to place the responsi-
hility for strikes upon the operators
because these were understood not to
favor arbitration. $
Up then till 1922 differences wei e
settled without strikes. Then the po.-
icy of the workers turned to militancy
and from then till the present time,
the country has undergone three
strikes, the miners refusing arbitra-
ton and other suggestions for peace
full adjustment and refusing to cor
tinue work pending efforts b. the oI-
orators or public officials to reach
settlement. Militancy has been in the
saddle.
President Wilson on July 10, 1922
called all parties concerned to the
White House and urged arbitration.
Mr.. Wilson reported the result as foi-
lows: "The anthracite operators
promptly accepted the entire proposal.
The mine workers refused. to resume
work under the arbitration proposal" +"
In 1923 the same situation develop
ed. This time the Governor of Penn
sylvania intervened. His statement
was that s'the public interest demands
that this controversy shall be settled,
and that supervision of mining shall
be avoided" But he took the side of
workers and secured the increase of
wages. Getting this, the workers re-
turned to the mines.
This year another strike is on-his-
tory again repeating itself. Again
the operators offer arbitration and a.
gain the offer is refused. So that
from being an earnest advocate of ar
bitration in 1902, the United Mine
Workers, in its latter days has chang
ed into distinguished opponent Of
arbitration. 1t proposes to wrench
from a reluctant society, not what is
right and reasonable in accordance
with the judgment Of fair minded
men, but what it can seize into itself
through fear of the priwation it can
infiict upon the public. It demands
that the public ransom itself from
the hardship of industrial disturb
ance.
Mr.. Merritt also shows how the an
thracite workers are favored group;
reveals the average wages as better
than that given workers in other in
dsstries, reveals how John L. Lewis
ilsss confusd the public as to the earn
;ngs of the worker; deplores the lack
of cooperation between the operators
and workers in the matter of safety
rules; discusses the chck-off question
and winds up by saying:
n I "I believe the entire moral force of
the nation should be marshaled to
compel both anthracite operators and
miners to settle their differences
peacefully by arbitration, and with
out public injury. Where the tribunal
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