The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-30
WHAT SHALL WE PAY FOR CoALr


'"To what base uses we may return"
WHAT SHALL WE PAY FOR C0ALr
WITH perfect knowledge that coal has, within the
last ten days. declined about dollar per ton In
New York, we desire to ask the question, whether
we shall pay higher price than we now paying,
or do without coal altogether?
We are led to ask this question by the informa-
ton we have from the coal regions, and the recent
threatening letter of John Siney, who acts for
the Coal Miners Union of Schuylkil county
To those who are familiar with the coal interests
OF this State what we are about to say will have no
especial interest, for they are already conversant
with most Of the facts but there are hundreds
of thousands OF people who are consumers of the
'fblack diamonds" who are In comparative ignorance
of the ways and means by which they are made to
suffer- To these people we desire to say that as an
individual Mr.. John Siney is of very little conse-
quence but when we know him to be the. head of an
important and numerous association Of coal miners,
with powers absolute, we come to look upon him In
different light, and therefore attach considerable
Importance to what Mr.. Siney may say in regard to
the mining of coal and the action OF the miners.
But first let us state the powers of this man in his
representative capacity We have said that his will
was absolute So it is. If he thinks the men of
certain mine are not getting as much pay they
should, he not only stops the work at THAT
miIe; but proceeds throughout the coal
region and stops ALL until the difficulties in the
troublesome" mine are adjusted to his satisfaction.
This is bad enough but he didn't end here, but once
aImonth, generally on the 25th, Mr.. Sney visits the
coal market in this or other cities, has a powwow
with the coal dealers, returns home and fixes the
prices to be paid to the miners for the coming
month and, If the operators don't like Mr.. Sineys
schedule why they must cease operations until such
times as MIR. Siney chooses to let them 60 on. Nor
does'he stop here. No, but he INDUCES in another
little pleasantry-one which the public is most
deeply interested inland that is Of "bulling" the
hyt liyNO fhA that nn1n fhnu
hold their coal at certain price, that he (the
miAers will quit producing coal altogether and thus
run up prices by creating dearh OF the article But
these results cannot always be accomplished In mo-
ment and of this fact the "Head Centre" Is evil
IDENTITY aware, for early as the 22d inst. he writes
to the Pottsvile Journal the following 'feeler:"-
GAS on all occasions went to Philadelphia to as
certain the price of coal during the month"; so as to
the 18th as usual But it appears that that mode Of
fixing wages does not suit the operators for they
shut up all source OF information from me, and l
below that had implicit confidence in refused to
give me the least Information on the ground tnat IN
your paper the private figures received one month
since happened to be published without my know
ledge consent. cannot blame the dealers below,
but take this opportunity to thank them for the
obligng and respectful manner in which they have
always treated me- 1t only proper that therespon-
sibiity should rest with the operators they were the
cause OF having said figures published and let them
hold their peace forever about dissatisfied miners.
The Operators agreed to pay the miners certain
percentage, and after short time they endeavor to
close up all means of access by which that percent
Ie nner the 20 state
affairs, and know not how to avert it. II the ope
rators are determined to force it, let 1t come.
every respectfully, - -"
Now this is certainly very polite and handsome
note from Mr.. Siney, and to those who do not un-
derstand the practical workings of the machine"
looks as though the miners were being very badly
treated by those who should be above any such &C
tion. We happen to know that the case is some
unotaV anOara ad hU Mr. hntt thn foil M
which appears in the same paper, from gentleman
whom we understand to be perfectly reliable throws
quite different aspect upon the subject
''The communication OF Mr.. John Sney in this
mornings Daily looks as If he meant to pTeciptate
a strike on the list inst. To my certain knowledge
Mr.. Siney was on Walnut street on Saturday, (2Oth)
four days ahead Of time, and without our COMMITTEES
| man, according to agreement, engineering prices,
and he obtained letters from three prominent houses
that know Of, and perhaps more. II the figures SO
obtained don't meet his ideas OF what they should be-
let him say 30 honestly and try to shift the ISSUE
II he means STRIKE, on account OF the lou averages
he got let him say So The operators are willing to
abide by all their agreements to the letter. No more
no less. l don't like anonymous communications,
and If Mr. siney wants my name he can have 1t by
! calling upon you"
The fact that coal is on the decline is, perhaps
better known to Siney than to most people, and
from the above we feel as though the Head Centre
| was inclined to prevaricate slightly In fact, I'VE
know that at the bottom of all lies the fact that
| less the miners do strike, coal must come down to
| something like q reasonable price. We are among
those who like to see men paid fair price for their
labor and If necessary in protecting themselves In
| their efforts, but when men seek to make right by
doing wrong, we are opposed to it unequvocally.
In other words we look upon 1t that the miner after
having entered into q compact which in reality robs
the coal consuming public, and finding that 1t was
successful, have become more grasping dctatorial,
and avaricious than ever, and to accomplish their
ends threaten "strlke," which is but another word
for lawlessness OF every kind and character, from
petty larceny to murder There is Disgusting this
fact the coal regions have il frequently before,
and will see 1t again If something is not done to pre-
| vent IT..
We are inclined to believe that this little amuse-
ment OF the coal miners can be stopped, at least
curtaled trlie and 1t certainly ought to be done,
ana that right speedily. Perhaps small dose OF
| coone labor would assist the patient. Coolies have
been found to work well in the mines Of California
and the different Territories, and we see no good
| reason why they should not work equally as well in
the coal mines OF Schuylkil and the adjoining coal
producing counties 1t is worth a trial, and the
strong arm OF the military might be invoked to pre-
vent these men who Mr.. Sney represents fro m
doing the damage which they threaten, should the
| undertaking be tried. 1t would soon settle the
yeXlng question as to what we shall pay for coal
SPECIAL NOTICES.
| n6SND ORIENTAL AND RIRIE LANDS-DO