New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-01

an interest in this issue The movement comprehenusa
suspension whenever coal falls below certain PcSS az
Eizabethport aud other designated points Inns o0es
not prevent coal from rising TO fabulous price, put Is ~
tended perpetual bar to It's ever failing 70 w, nat
equaize the cost Of his fue for though may be high
necf compeon in labor AT tile mines is TO be al
lowed place coal within the reach OF the poor OF inc
cities While the miner proposes fatten upon his I'M
righteous enterprise Of D0serng the market the labor
ers the sewing girls the factory hands OF your Guy usI
eat uncooked food and SILVER over cherries hearth
stones j.
scranton, Penn, June %, 1869.
THE MINERS THEMsELvEs-wHAT MAKES THEM
UNGOVERNABLE.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Inasmuch as THE TRIBUNE has under
taken TO give the matter Of the difficulty in the Coal Re
pons fair and impartial discussion, and as the "oper
aor from Scranton has given your readers the benefit Of
his views perhaps you will likewise open your columns
and give the EmplOye" hearing. The Scranton writ
ers principal objection to the establishment Of basis OF
miners wages according TO the market price Of coal is
that the employees such bad class Of men that they
would not adhere for any great length Of time to any
basis that might be agreed upon Now do not deny that
the miners a class manageable, and per
haps awless than other body Of men in the country
They are 70 fearful extent immoral and addicted TO
cessive intemperance. and when on "strke" very
large proportion Of them are almost continually under
the influence OF liquor and in this condition commit acts
Of violence and frequently murder There are however
ing TO be such an exception, believe have right to
give my views which First: Ton years In the Coal
Regions OF Leigh have convinced that the operators
much TO blame for the degraded condition OF the
operatives the men themselves The miners as gem
eral thing ignorant, uncutvated men, addicted
To the habits of their native country. They are
taken into the employ Of operators put into houses Tor
shantes scarcely fit quarter animals in, and charged
rent fully high mechanics pay for good comfort
able, cOmmOdlOus house Instead OF preventing the SAFE
Of Intoxicating liquors about their works, ana re-
moving temptation from their employees II dollar is 10
be made by the trade many operators do not hesitate 10
sell the poison in their stores. No pains are taken 10 en-
courage habits OF sObriety cleanliness economy, anu
hrftiness among tho men, or 10 establish schools LOT
their children. They pay them certain wages ana Ie
they receive back again OF the money, lOf B
priced goods the better they satisfied second
There why the system OF wages IN proper
ton to the market price OF coal should not work rs wen
been adopted and Is working harmonlOusly as Tor III
in some Of the iron works Of the Lehlgh valley
where the employees receive wages in proportion TO
! the price Of the pig-rOn produced. Nneh tne
] price Of iron goes up the wages OF the men
! arc increased in proportion, ana Wlen prices
decline wages are reduced exact proportion men.
ever an increase is warranted, the men arc h0tIeu
the fact without waiting for them to strike ana Nhen
uctou is necessary the recognize III as JUST ana
| submit without murnuring simply because thGy khO"
their employers to be fair men, and that they VIII 90 le
trust each other, and the man VINO wOud undertake 10
advocate strike those works would De ap 10 rare
very badly The iron works alluded to Is one OF the most
prosperous in the valley. Inc coal operators see III
act differently When coal goes up and When they coud
well afford increase the miners wages 10 OF 10 cents
on car without waiting for the miners to strike, they
work suspended aud business depressed they call loudly
for sympathy and attempt to saddle the entire blame ON
the do not apologize TOT the cmpI9yes-lu n9S
instances they commit great wrongs ana even CRIMES
but say that If the miners were as fairy ana honestly
treated as mechanics and Others by their employers
strikes difficulties and stoppages would be or rare occur
ence When men treated like dogs they are apt TO act
| like dogs EMPLOYE.
1fauch Chunk, Penn, June %, 1859.