The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-06-27
A LESSON ON COKE.
THE GREAT STRIKE IN THE COKE
REGION.
A New Chapter in Protection to Labor.
The Coke Combination and How 1t
Put up Prices-What Labor
Lost-The Black List.

calls attention anew to the failure of
protection to make labor '.contented
and happy" according to its oft re-
iterated promise. Some of the facts
in the recent history of this protec-
ted industry make this strike of I'M
usual interest as an object lesson in
protection and its effects ON wages
and on laborers.
Coke is consumed almost entirely
in blast furnaces in the production
of pig iron. Our phenomenal pro-
duction of iron in 1890 created an
enormous demand for coke last year,
the total amount produced reaching
at least 100000 tons. OF this g.
23l 900 tons were shipped from the
celebrated Connellsville coke region
of Pennsylvania. OF 1.-THE l6, 900 coke
ovens in this region 10000 are con-
trolled by the H. c. Frick company,
of which Andrew Carnegie is the head.
Besides this company there are five
other principal companies engaged
in making coke.
The number of coke producers in
the main district of the country be-
ing thus very small, the conditions
are highly favorable for combina-
tion to control prices and output.
As matter of fact the coke compa-
MES 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 1000 pounds, and in some cases
at even lower price. In the latter
part of the year, however, the price
was advanced to $l.25 and early in
1889 to $3.50. In November 1889,
the price was further pushed up to
$l75: and in February, 1860, high
water mark was touched at $2.15.
High prices prevailed for the rest of
the year, and the enormous quantity
produced must have yielded immense
profits to the combination. The New
York Commercial Bulletin says that
even when they were selling at 81 per
ton they were making money.
Soon after the beginning of the
commercial 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 accordingly put
at Sl.9O per ton, and is still adhered
to.
Considering that this price was
still nearly double the price of 1888
the combination must still have
very large margin of profit left. No
sooner, however. was this reduction
made than the combination began to
talk of the necessity of reducing wa
ges, and reduction of 10 per cent.
was ordered about Feb. |.
But the coke workers had quite
other Ideas. A large part of these
are Hungarians and Italians impor-
ted by the companies some years ago
to take the place of American labor
ers who had struck. The newcomers,
however, had learned the power of
organization in asserting their de
mands against the powerful combi-
nation of operators. They insisted
upon an increase of 123 per cent. in
stead of a reduction, a demand which
was pronounced ridiculous" by the
operators. Carnegie himself said in
an interview, ut is the wrong time
for labor to choose for making de-
mand 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 $780,
600, of which sum $1,000,000 repre-
sented loss of wages to the men, and
the remainder losses to the manufac-
turers-an average loss to all parties
of about $500, 900 per week. Besides
this there was an estimated loss of
10000 in wages to the furnace
workers of the Mahoning and Shen-
ango 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 well out into May.
Then came the news from Pittsburg
that a new supply of Italians, ''most
of them fresh from Europe" was be-
ing shipped into the coke region "un-
der strong guard. 1t was stated
by the Italian leader of the this band
that there were American agents all
over Italy trying to induce Italians
to come to the United States. Sew
eral thousands of the poorest class
had thus found their way to Pitts
burg since the strike began, and, il
was added, '.just who pays their fares
does not appear on the surface"
Toward the end of May the great
strike hae pretty thoroughly eollaps
ed, the men gradually going back
to work at last years wages.
The reduction was defeated, but
the increase was not secured. The
companies, however, refused to take
back the more active strikers on any
terms, and about thousand were
thus reported as 'blaeklisted.
And such is the story of great
protected industry (duty ON coke &c
per cent. J and the way that it 'makes
labor contented and happy" Hav-
ing complete possession of the home
market, and trust prices for its pro
duct fixed by itself in its own 'sgen.
tlemen's agreement" it ought tC
yield the ripe fruit of contented well
paid labor; but labor does not real
ize the promised blessings.
What does ii Mean!
1