The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-17

It Ec1ks m though the strike ~ tne
RosIys coal mines has been settled
for some time TO come, and we shall
probably hear OF few Disturbance IN
the future at that point. The company
was NO doEbt out Of patience at the
Ioup-drawn-out uneasiness which Pre-
vailed at the mines. and in using
somewhat heroic methods TO settle TIE
trouble they appear 10 hsse had the
sympathy Of the community IN gen
eral. The Rosiyn strike, Ikea number
az Others whirh have been recorded as
occurring at different localities IN
Western Washington, seems TO have
been III advised, ana was the OUT
growth OF dissensions stirred up By
vicious and irresponsible agitatoFs.
These men exert their influence alto
reti,er TOO often In our mining camps.
end most of the troubles which hare un-
fortunately broken ont sithin the last
rear are to be attributed 10 their mis-
guided efforts.
II may almost he termed Iapsie
misfortune 20 have our mines shnt
down and our miners cease worg Just
at this particular iunciure in the his
tory Of coal mining. The industry Is
nov growing perhaps more tkan any
other IN the territory. Old mines are
being furnished with the latest and
most approved patterns OF machinery
and the output increased, new mines
are being opened and the coal making /
: name for itself; and any I'M
settled differences between en-
ployers and employees cannot fail 10
make progress uncertain and resard |
the development OF ouI coal interests
in every locality. Several mines we're
shut down during the past summer
70 that the output was far below what
it should have been. Some Of the
companies were more or less erabar-
raised In filing their contracts, and
the miners by remaining idle were
using up any little surplus they might /
have accumulated and running the
chances oil reducing themselves to
actual destitution.
II labor should remain In that UNI
certain and unsatisfactory condition
for prolonged period, il would neces-
sarily bring about state of demorali-
xation everywhere in coal mining re-
gions. No company viii make any
effort to increase the output, 20 enlarge
and improve It's machinery and 10 ia.
eilitate generally the better working OF
property II it is continually at war
with It's workmen, and the fact that |
there Is constant irritation between /
the two factions representing the EN-
ployer and the employed must neees- |
sarily renGsr coal mining an uncer-
tain field in which to invest money
and have tendency to keep away that
capital which would otherwise be util-
lied In developing our vast and yet an
opened coal deposits.
No doubt, at times. the miners have
just cause for making complaints, but
more frequently their grievances are
nothing more nor less than the foringi-
lated faneiee OF small but vicious ele-
ment which Is found in every camp,
and which. lnmindful OF the real vel
fare of the miners, attempts TO run
matters with high hand. make de-
mands which at heart the majority
do not assent TO. and arbitrarily die
tate as TO how the end shall he gained.
The influence OF such men Is invari-
ably bad, and listening TO their coui,-
sells invariably results disastrously 10
the miner Their mistaken notions
and foolish promptings have brought
about SO much unnecessary trouble;
however, that their day seems TO he
nearing It's close. aud il Is not unlikely
that the honest iaboFers in our mines
viii have more regard for their own
interests aud not be led hlindly
into disputes and differences which
would never exist but for the evil
advice OF idle agitators. If the miners
have real grievances and maniully
seek to have them redressad they can
rely on the general public to back then,
mp, and with public sentiment in their
favor there Is every probability OF their
petitions being listened IN and justice
being granted. hut whenever they
allow themselves 20 he led of by un.
scrupulous ringleaslers and arbitrarily
make demands which in ordinary
trade or business would be regarded
rs unreasonable: whenever the basis
of any strike or disturbance is wrong
and evidently brought about by few
men who are never easy unless in hes
water, then the miners right IL puddle
Inc support viii have been forfeited
and in the long run they are certain
.ss.rtatn fn iaSa