i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

26 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
MR. CARNEGIE'S VIEWS ON
THE QUESTION OF STRIKES.
Andrew Carnegie's address read at the recent
annual meeting of the National Civic Federation
in New York is an interesting and striking production
.partly by reason of Mr. Carnegie's experience
with the questions handled, but mainly
from the deductions presumably drawn from his
experience. The subject of the paper is "Industrial
Peace." After citing the fact that sixsevenths
of the 7,000,000 persons comprising the
industrial population are at peace, that there is
no friction between the 10,000,000 agricultural
workers and their employers and that there is
unbroken tranquility among the 5,500,000 persons
engaged in domestic service, Mr. Carnegie continues
as follows:
"I am persuaded that quarrels arise quite as
often from the employer's ignorance of the fine
qualities of his employes as from ignorance of the
workmen of the good qualities of their employers.
"As far as the largest manufactories and mines
are concerned, I think the great corporation engaged
in a dispute with its men makes a mistake
if it adopts the policy, or even considers it. of
running the works with new men. First, the best
workmen are not idle, and to employ the only
class that can be obtained is to lay the foundation
of serious future trouble. Even when the employer
succeeds in running the work with new
men his victory is really a defeat. He will ultimately
lose more by the change than he would
have lost had he patiently awaited a settlement
with his old men.
"If, in case of a strike, the employer promptly
informed his men that they need have no apprehension
about their jobs, that he would not have
any but his own men, and knew that he could not
get such men as they, and, therefore, would wait
for them until their unfortunate differences were
settled, all would soon be well. I think employers
should make this an invariable rule—never to employ
new men in case of a strike, but to wait patiently
for the old men.
"In special branches this policy is impossible,
such as in street and other railways and wherever
the daily wants of the public are concerned. No
doubt new men in extreme cases must be employed,
but it i.s a sad necessity, to be avoided
whenever possible. In these cases public sentiment
plays a potent part and hastens a settlement."
Samuel Gompers, who acted as toastmaster at
the dinner, said labor had found out through the
Civic Federation that employers are not the
"modern monsters" which thcy used to picture in
the past. He said he welcomed, advisedly for
labor which he represented, the organizations of
employers.
Speeches were delivered also by Archbishop Ireland,
Mr. Belmont, President Eliot of Harvard,
Henry Phipps, Francis L. Robbins and John Mitchell.
A growing appreciation of the trade agreement
on the part of both organized employers and wageearners
as a practical method of securing and
maintaining industrial peace, was reported by
Francis L. Robbins of Pittsburgh, chairman of the
department of trade agreements. He said there
have been several important additions to the more
than 50 trade agreements already existing in great
national industries and an extension of their
local application.
A letter of regret from President Roosevelt said
among other things:
"I am sure you understand that I am in hearty
accord and sympathy with the purposes of the
National Civic Federation in its effort for the establishment
of more rightful relations between
employers and employes.
"Views upon economic and sociological problems
often differ. There can be, however, no division
of opinion that the highest aim of all should be
toward establishing on an ever-closer basis of mutual
respect and friendship the relations between
employers and workmen."
FRANCE AS A FIELD FOR THE
AMERICAN EXPORT COAL TRADE.
Iii the first eight months of 1904 the total coal
imports into France were S.060.350 tons, against
8,137.1 SO tons and 7.S36.450 tons in the corresponding
months of 1903 and 1902. The receipts from
Great Britain and Germany showed a falling off,
while those from Belgium were slightly larger.
There was also an increased importation of coke
during the above period, the total imports being
1,108,000 tons, against 978,840 tons and 760,100
tons in the first eight months of 1903 and 1902.
The imports of briquettes were 363,940 tons in
1904, against 424,520 tons and 321,030 tons in 1903
and 1902.
Whether or not the falling off of the imports of
German coal into France since the beginning of
the year indicates that the efforts of the Westphalian
syndicate to capture the French market
are not succeeding would be difficult to state. German
coal is not making great headway in the
Havre market, and several of the leading importers
say they do not fear the German competition,
especially at this time, when the prices for
small British coal are so low.
Rumors have been circulated of renewed efforts
of American coal exporters to establish an outlet
in France for American coal. In articles published
in several of the English and French trade