New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-03
MISTAKES OF LABOR LEADERS.

The news of great strike of Western miners
for eight hours day under orders OF the United
Mine Workers comes at most unfortunate ume
for the workers themselves. 1t happens that
within few days the miners of the Mononga-
hela Valley, who supply the river trade all the
way to New Orleans, have just returned to work
after long struggle and period OF idleness,
having obtained an advance of half cent per
bushel in wages Their present wages are SO
high that it is stated hundreds of miners have
been attracted to the region from other parts
of the country. as more money can be made at
the new rate in the Monongahela district than
anywhere else There is some reason to doubt
whether they will refuse to quit work, at leasu
for the present, whatever the orders OF their
organization may be-
On the other hand, those engaged in struggle
at the coke works of the Connellsville region
have been distinctly beaten in their long con-
troversy. The operators demanded reduction
of wages, and the men an advance, and after
prolonged period of ideness many OF the works
have found a sufficient supply of new hands and
have resumed operations, but, as usual in that
region. resort to violence and riotng have in
terrupted the resumption OF work, and at the
same time destroyed to great extent whatever
sympathy the public may have felt with the
strikers. If the new order of the Mine Work
ers Association be intended to help the men IN
the Connellsvile district, it seems likely to be
too late for any practical service. Though most
of the places may not yet have been filled, the
sliding scale adopted by the operators has been
practically accepted by a large number of the
former workers, and it is believed that suffi-
Gent supply of labor has been secured to meet
all the demands of the trade for the present
TO all appearances the miners in this district
have been defeated, and those who resume work
are doing so at the reduction which the operators
proposed.
In other districts west of Pittsburg, II the
proposed struggle for eight hours Is entered upon
with any degree of unanimity and earnestness
by the miners, the struggle is likely to be pro-
loneed and to both parties disastrous. The
competition between the different sources OF
supply in these regions is at all times very sharp,
and little difference in the cost of production
per bushel or per ton determines the profitable
ness of the works. 1t is likely that most of the
operators may find themselves unable or unwill-
ing to continue work at all at the new rate pro-
posed unless they are assured that they are not
to meet competition from miners of other dis
tricts who adhere to the old hours of labor and
rates OF pay. Perhaps great struggle between
employers and employed was never ordered at
more unfortunate time, on the whole, for the
aboring force because the demand for coal in
all uses, and particularly in the manufacture of
iron and steel, has been greatly reduced within
the last three months.
1t is the public impression, to a great extent
justified by the experience of TIE last two years,
that nearly all these controversies have their
origin in the anxiety OF labor organizers and
labor leaders to make their services appear i'm
portant to those who contribute to their sup
port. The feeling that these managers have no
real and abiding interest in the welfare of those
whom they profess TO represent is growing, even
among the workingmen themselves. On the
other hand so many Of these controversies have
obviously originated in the domineering spirit
or the Matchmaking disposition of men I'M
fortunately chosen to represent the working
force, that the disposition of employers to resist
such dictation has been greatly strengthened
within the last year or two. The complete
breakdown of the clothing workers in the con-
troversy at Rochester and the arrest of some Of
their leaders for violation Of law in attempting
to destroy the business of the firms with which
they have controversy has produced wide
spread impression, the results Of which are like
" to be felt in the future The abOr organZa-
tons cannot afford to make such mistakes. 1t
is fatal to- their cause to resort to violence, or to
evil methods, or to precipitate industrious and
willing workers into weary and killing struggle
without just cause or fair prospect of success.