Stone & Webster Journal Volume 30 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...had done elsewhere, as they were satisfied that they could do business with their operators. In the second place, the Orient miners appeared to have determined that if there was actually going to be a strike, the country should not suffer for want of coal. In other words, their public spirit far outstripped their class spirit. They were citizens before they were miners. The distinguished mining engineer whom we have quoted says that their accomplishment in mining more coal in a day than any other body of miners revives one's faith in human nature. But it does not revive it nearly as much as does their accomplishment in subordinating private gain to public good. This attests what we have always maintained, namely, that most persons are fair-minded and have no desire to make trouble for their fellows. Miners are like the rest of us, some are good, some are bad and some are indifferent. But in all classes the good out-number the bad and the indifferent; otherwise things would go to smash in short order. Intelligent and fair-minded miners, like other intelligent and fair-minded persons, sometimes make mistakes and do things that are neither for the public good nor for their own. But mistakes of that kind are easily excused, because, springing from no wrong desire, they are corrected the moment the error is perceived. Leadership is necessary in every class of life, but often with no conscious intent we chose unreliable leaders, and sometimes we have to follow them, though against our inclination, until we can replace them with better ones. Organized labor as at present constituted is still learning the ropes. Eventually it will learn how to handle them prudently and effectively. The Name and the Thing ON March 15, the upper floors of the new, modern, ...