The New York herald., 1871-01-12
THE COAL MINERS.

Suspensfcp-What II Means and What 1t VIII
Accomplfs',--ticnerai DE,ucss Thr0uahout
the Goal Rcgions-Grim Truths TO be Ua.
folded.
MAUCH CHUNK, jan. 10, 1871.
The aphorism that zone half Of the world does not
know now the other half liyes'' Is In OF un-
pleasant but graphic illustration In this quarter.
Just now, While everybody everywhere else is
anxousy longing for cheap fucl very large ana
respectable class OF people In the coal regions are AS
earnestly devlSing how they most surely raise
the price OF the great winter staple. To-day in.
augurates the contemplated suspension OF tho
miners throughout the anthracite coal field, and
the mastery inactivity OF the producers will, un-
doubtedly, continue until the price OF coal reaches
what Is termed among them q paying basis.
1t Is claimed that over production OF coal has oc-
casioned depression In the market, and suspen.
sion Is regarded as the only panacea for disorder
In business so undesirable to operators especially
In coal. Suspension does not mean 'strike" in
the general acceptance of the latter word. There is
no struggle between the employed and the EN-.
ployers about wages, but the men voluntarily ab.
stain from labor until the surplus product Is
worked or and prices enhance correspondence.
The only question which can arise between the
miners and the coal mine owners comes up when
the men claim "basis' upon which they VIII 20 to
work. "Basis" simply means q share IN the al.
vanced price Of coal when begins to 60 to market
upon the conclusion Of a suspension, and in time
past there has been little higging as
10 what would be about the right figure
IN the percentage 0f the profit Tor
the miner. The Mlners' Association has fixed the
rate heretofore, and the men have obtained what
they demanded. 1t Is fair to presume that similar
result will follow the present movement OF the
miners. But, In the meantime 1t may not be out
OF place to say there must be much suffering amonQ
the t0llers, who Will De placed In unwonted straits
hy the general stagnal0n OF business and the rigors
OF the season. When 'Suspensi0n' was inaugurated
| nigh en- TO two years ego, the weather was ballny
Farm hands were In demand everywhere, and the
Idle miners, while waiting for the "basisr which
might be near or remote, found occupation in
ullnG the soil Tor others or in cultivatin0 little
plots OF ground for themselves. Now winter locs
up the earth from tliage, and the eager ro,t nips
be denied That abstinence from work Just now must
bring multitude OF ills to those who are forced 20
labor and who feel that the day has consumed what
the day has earned. They may get better wages
now, Dut 1t seems to me- that the old adage ''Whie
the grass grows the horse siarvesn applies with
in the coal leg. .Ons.
IL is too early to predict results and must appy
patient investigation before can send You fuller
iacs about the pres nj movement. 1t is fair to Judge
OF the future by the past, and hazard nothing IN
saying that The miners will manage s.suSDension'3 as
they did Defore-ll peacefuiness and good order,
No act OF violence has heretofore characterized their
proceedings and we may safely trust that this Will
not mar their record There are two sides to this
story, and hope to be able to give that OF tie oper-
at0fS ana miners In such manner that there can
be no complaint that either is incorrect or eyagger-
ter or In Time TO come ale destined TO be sadly dis
appointed greatly fear.