The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-19
THE INVASION AT FRANKLIN.

The public has been fully informed of
the happenings of the past two days in
the mining district of this county. Up
wards of six hundred negro laborers have
been introduced in body by the manage
ment of the Franklin mine under contract
to do work heretofore done by white men,
resident here, and who, with their fam
lilies, torn part of the permanent and
established population of the county.
Upon every social consideration it
is to be regretted that the man
ayers of the mine have resorted
to this extreme proceeding. Only un-
der exceptional circumstances is it for
tunate for a country to receive access
sions to its population in this way. The
evils of contract labor" are recognized
not only by the sentiment of the people
but by national law which prohibits it as
between foreign countries and the United
States. In this case it is especially to be
regretted since the new corners are in q
sense alien to the state and but poorly
furnished in the qualities that go
to make substantial and independent
citizenship. AS q class, leaving out
all considerations of race, they are
distinctly inferior to the men whose places
they have come to fill, and so long as they
remain they will lower the standard and
to certain extent the dignity of labor in
this state. But even more serious than this
is the fact that by supplying places here
tofore filled by resident laborers, their
coming will occasion a period of distress
among body of people whose daily COM
fort depends upon their daily labor.
The differences between the mine man.
ayers and the mine workers which have
brought about this invasion are too COM
plicated for the understanding of those
who lack special knowledge of the coal
mining industry. They are of long stand
ing and have been the occasion of innu-
merable strikes, and consequently, of con-
slant interruption in the operation of the
several coal mines in this county.
Strangely enough, there is no question as
to the rate of pay, the whole trouble hing
| ing upon a multitude of minor details which
the management declare practically turns
the control of their property over to the
employees.
AS to the truth or falsity of the state
ments made by one side or the other, as to
| the justice or injustice of the claims and
counter claims, the PosT-INTELLIeEScER
| cannot undertake to determine. But this
| much is very certain, and it is evident to
| everybody, that the Interruptions and de-
| lays growing out of these contentious have
seriously limited the industry of coal
| mining in this county, affecting disas-
trously alike the interests of the mine own
| ers, the interests of the mine workers, and
the general public interest, which is al
ways related to the prosperous activity
both of labor and capital. Through the
| frequent shutting down of the several
mines there has been fifty per cent. less
| mining work to be done with consequent
loss of fifty per cent. all along the line of
interests, public and private, related to
| the coal industry.
The progress Of the state of Washington
from this time on is very largely depend
/ ent upon the development of the mining
| industry in its several forms, and il NAV
be recognized as a fact that this industry
cannot prosper under the conditions which
| now control labor in the mining field.
The frequent strikes of the past two or
three years have served to call the atten-
ton of outside capital to the feverish con-
| dition of labor here, with the result of
hindering investment in enterprises in
which cooperation with labor is a neces-
sary condition. 1t is now practically inn
possible to sell coal mine in this state,
| no matter how rich or accessible, because
those who might be purchasers will not
undertake to meet or combat the demands
of the labor situation. The condition of
the labor market is therefore blockade
upon the development Of those great in
dustries essential 70 the well being and
| progress of the state.
These are facts which coal miners and
| other working men should carefully con-
slider. They have it in their power by
policy of reason and moderation TO secure
great empire here dedicated TO free and
well-paid labor. BY contrary policy
they will either hinder the develop
ment of the state or put its labor into the
hands of men like those just now intro
duced at Franklin. A beginning has been
made and il is asserted that there will be
no back down; that the mine owners viii.
from this time forth, take into their own
| hands the regulation OF matters which
| have heretofore been at issue between