New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-05
A TASTEFUL STRUGGLE

The pcrnicious influence Of the knights of
Labor upon the welfare Of the working men and
women of the country is forcibly illustrated by
the strike of Reading coal miners. Months
ago certain Lehlgh miners attempted to secure
an al rance in wages. Reading miners then
consented to an agreement that il
the desired advance in the Lchigh
region should not be established by
January 1 they would return to the old rate,
meanwhile getting the incrca &C and the ass lr-
ance of larger employment and larger earnings,
because the stoppage of supplies from the
Lehigh mires enabled other companies to mar
ket greatly increased quantities. This honor
able agreement, which was beneficial to both
parties the miners have now broken.
The Lehigh miners were not successful.
Then the Knights in desperation undertook to
boycott certain coal firms. One of them was
sending coal over the Reading; the Knights on
the Reading refused to move or unload the coal.
The company, being compelled as common
carrier to take the freight offered, properly
discharged from its service the few crews
which had refused to do the work required.
Then the Knights on the whole Reading sys-
tenn were ordered to strike, in the hope of COM
polling the companies to take back the lew
men discharged. That also failed and now the
miners strike in order to compel the company
10 make terms with the railroad workers. Less
than 100 men were thrown out of work ut the
outset; over 10000 railroad workers and
miners, it is stated. are now under orders to
strike for the purpose of forcing the Ie-cm-
ploymcnt of the little handful, though many
who are ordered refuse.
No sensible worker needs to be told that this
is a wastcful and foolish struggle. Half
days wages for 10000 men would keep 100
men in dlencss for a whole year. But the
strike began because the organization ordered
it, and for the purpose of proving the power
of the organization. although the men them
selves must realize that they have but slender
chances of success. Whether the wages of
the coal miners ought to be raised or not is not
at present the immediate question; that the
miners had a right to consider before they
entered into the agreement last fall. ii they
we're unwilling to work at the old wages, they
should not have agreed to do so after January
l. in case the Lehlgh strike did not succeed.
Unless men abide by the agreements madd
through their organizations, employers have
small reason to treat with the organizations at
the influence of a labor organization as dcib-
crate disregard of its compacts.
So the hard winter season, always trying and
full of suffering for those whose daily bread
depends upon daily work and wages, is con-
fronted by many thousand men with keen
anxiety for wives and children. If there had
been at the outset a disposition to submit the
question at issue to fair and impartial arbtra-
tion the millions which the Lehigh miners
have lost already, and which all the miners and
railroad men will now lose in wages, would
not have been sacrificed. and peaceful cOnccs-
sion on either or both sides would have secured
constant employment. Surely MIR. Powdery
was right when he insisted that the Knights
ought never to begin or to countenancc strike
that could be avoided. But the practice of the
organization, under the leadership of other in
divduas, differs widely from his teachings.