The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-22
Strikes and Arbitration-No. /.
BY ANDREW ROY.

During the past ten years, the long, dis
sstrous and bitter periodical strikes among
the miners, arising out Of labor displ ties
with their employers, have attracted the
attention Of the General Assembly Of
Ohio, and a number Of bills have at one
time or another been under consideration
in that body bearing more or less upon the
subject. The direct purport Of most Of
these bills has been to punish persons who,
by threats, inuendoes. or other intima-
tions Of violence, sought to prevent labor
ers from working during the prevalence Of
a strike, on terms obnoxious to the strik
ers. Acts Of violence and incendiarism
have repeatedly occurred during strikes
but AS the present laws are amply sufficient
to punish such cases, as well as rhere
threats OF intimations of violence are used
to prevent men from working on any terms
they may choose to make with their EN-
Ployers, the General Assembly has not
deemed it necessary to legislate ON the
subject.
Nine out Of every ten strikes which have
occurred at the coal mines of the State Of
Ohio have been caused by the propositions
on the part Of the employers to reduce the
wages Of the miners. During the fuctua-
tiOns ON the value Of commodities, it al
most invariably happens that wages are
the last thing to 20 up and the first thing
to come down. When the price Of coal
goes up i'll the market, the miners, as soon
as they find it out, make haste to demand
a corresponding advance in their wages.
The operators may reply, as they often do,
1t makes no difference to you what we
are getting for our coal SO long as we are
paying you good wages" but the miners
cut short the argument by prompt refu-
sal to work until the demand is acceded
to. When coal comes down in the market,
and the operators propose to reduce wages
at the mines, the miners reply that 'there
has been no corresponding reduction in the
the necessries Of life, and that the pro-
posed reduction is alike uncalled for and
unjust; and 80 refuse t. accept q. lower
rate of wages.
In laying down their tools and refusing
to work for the wages offered, the miners
hope that the strike will not last more than
a few days at most; that the operators will
soon send for them and give them the old
prices for mining; and if the dispute were
to resolve itself into question Of endur-
ance between the two parties, there would
seldom be acts Of lswlessness committed
On the part Of the strikers. But the
operatives, knowing the ability of the
miners to hold out for months; that thew
Fill not yield until they are starved into
submission, and that if the miners are
land idle for four or tive months, they 1.-THE
oPerators) will be crippled, if not ruined
financially, seek bV every means in their
power to break up the strike. They dis
charge the strikers, order them out Of the
houses, and circulate advertise
ments for new miners, holding forth the
offer Of good wages. The striking miners
also advertise in the labor papers and in
printed circulars, setting forth the exist
ence of the strike, and urging all fellow
craftsmen TO stay away from the district
until after the strike has been settled. So |
perfectly are the miners organized by their
unions and by their ideas Of honor, that |
no inducement whatever can prevail upon
any Of them to take the places of their |
fellows on strike.
Meetings are sometimes held between
committees of miners and operatives dur
ing the prevalence Of a strike, but they