Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-03
A LESSON ON COKE.
THE GREAT STRIKE IN THE COKE
REGION.

The recent breakdown of the great
coke strike in western Pennsylvania calls
attention anew to the failure of protec-
ton to make labor "contented and hap
Ply, according to its oft reiterated prom
Use. Some of the facts in the recent his
tory of this protected industry make this
strike of unusual interest as an object
lesson in protection and its effect on
wages and On laborers.
Coke is consumed almost entirely in
blast furnaces in the production of pig
iron. Our phenomenal production of iron
in 1890 created an enormous demand for
coke last year, the total amount produced
reaching at least 10, 600. 900 tons. OF this
6,22l 900 tons were shipped from the cele-
brated Connellsville coke region of Penn
sylvania. OF the 10000 coke ovens in
this region 10000 are controlled by the
H. G. Prick company, of which Andrew
Carnegie Is the head. Besides this COM
pany there are five other principal com
panies engaged in making coke.
The number of coke producers in the
main coke district of the country being
thus very small, the conditions are highly
favorable for combination to control
prices and output. As matter of fact
the coke companies do stand together,
shoulder to shoulder. and make prices to
suit themselves. During the greater part
of 1888 coke was sold at 81 per ton of
1900 pounds, and in some cases at even
a lower price. In the latter part of the
year, however, the price was advanced
to S1.25 and early in 1899 to 81. so In
November, 1899, the price was further
pushed up to 81. IS; and in February, 1890,
high water mark was touched at 81. 10.
High prices prevailed for the rest of the
year, and the enormous quantity pro-
duced must have yielded immense profits
to the com bination. The New York Com
mercial Bulletin says that even when
they We're selling at 81 per ton they were
making money.
Soon after the beginning of the com
mercial depression of last fall the coke
combination saw that prices would have
to be reduced, owing to the diminished
production of pig iron; the price was ac-
cordingly put at 81 80 per ton, and is still
adhered to.
Considering that this price was still
nearly double the price Of 1888 the COM
bination must still have very large
margin of profit left. No sooner, how
ever. was this reduction made than the
combination began to talk Of the neces-
sity Of reducing wages, and reduction
Of 10 per cent. was ordered about Feb. l.
But the coke workers had quite other
A { Il
garians and Italians imported by the
companies some years ago to take the
place of American laborers who had
struck. The newcomers, however, had
learned the power of organization in as
sorting their demands against the pow
erful combination of operators. They
insisted upon an increase Of 124 per cent.
instead of a reduction, a demand which
was pronounced ridiculous by the OPP
orators. Carnegie himself said in an
interview, 1T is the wrong time for la
Dor to choose for making a demand for
higher wages"
Then, on Feb. 9, the great coke strike
began, and some 10000 coke workers
were idle for more than three months.
The story of the bloody riots in April is
a familiar story. The money losses on
both sides were enormous At the end
of the twelfth week the estimated loss
was $500, 900, of which sum 81 200, 900
represented loss of wages to the men,
and the remainder losses to the manu-
facturers-an average loss to all parties
of about 10, 900 per week. Besides this
there was an estimated loss of 81, 900, 600
in wages to the furnace workers of the
Mahoning and Shenango valleys. the
furnaces having been shut down mainly
on account Of the high prices exacted by
the combination of coke men.
Thus the great strike dragged its slow
length along till out into May. Then
came the news from Pittsburg that a
new supply of of Italians, most of them
fresh from Europe" was being shipped
into the coke region under a strong
guard" 1t was stated by the Italian
leader of this band that there were
American agents all over Italy trying to
induce Italians to come to the United
States. Several thousands of the poor
est class had thus found their way TO
Pittsburg since the strike began, and, it
was added, Just who pays their fares
does not appear on the surface"
Toward the end of May the great
strike had pretty thoroughly collapsed,
the men gradually going back to work
at last years wages.
The reduction was defeated. but the
increase was not secured. The compa-
MES, however, refused to take back the
more active strikers on any terms, and
Il. u. -
'blacklisted.
And such is the story of great pro-
tected industry duty on coke 90 per
cent? and the way that it makes labor
contented and happy" Having com
plete possession of the home market. and
trust prices for its product fixed by itself
in its own ''gentlemen's agreement" it
ought to yield the ripe fruit of contented
well paid labor; but labor does not real
ize the promised blessings.