The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-23
Strike of Soft Coal Miners.

Patrick McBryde, the secretary and
treasurer OF the United Mine Work
ers Of America, 4 labor o~rSsniza-
ton at whose command 1870, 900 men
engaged in the bituminaus coal mining
industry in Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio. ~lndiSna, parts Of Illinois and
West Virginia on Saturday went on
strike, announces the purpose OF this
vast movement to DO ITO improve trade
conditions which have been destroyed
ly the unbusiness-like methods and
-ecGlessness OF the coal operators"
Lest this explanation might DO regarded
as too brief, he Celebrates II by saying
that the coal trade has developed more
rapidly than the necessities of the
country require, causing u relentless
competition in which INSCRIPTIONS
operators have sought to secure trade,
regardless of the welfare OF their en-
ployes: wheroupon the honest opera
tors. in self defence, had TO meet these
aggressions by aggresslons Of a similar
kind. Wages, says Mr.. McBryde,
Came down until men were in starvation,
while having the name Of being at work,
1t was useless to strike IN one locality, ss
those baTuscles on the trade were 20 be
found everywhere. The miners reduced
their wages to give the fair operator a
chance 10 exist, but they have been pa
tiently% preparing for the present movement.
They seek first q general suspension to re-
move the surplus coal from the market.
They VIII ask the operators TO meet them
and establish a scale Of mining on Il fair
and equitable basis that viii let all secure
a share Of the trade. II they succeed
IN this movement, then their suspension
will come 10 al end and everybody, In.
Guiding the general public. will be bane-
fitted. IL We fail 20 secure euch a meeting,
then the fight will 50 on until there Is VIC
tory or defeat | trust, however, that tic
sense Of fair play among the coal operators
Of the country is such that before long q
scale VIII be made and peace aud harmony
restored to the miners OF the country.
Officials Of the strikers have, it is
said. made careful preparation to avoid
incidents Of violence; and so far as =
majority of the mine owners are con
c5rned It is probable that they will, at
present, make little effort to continue
the operation of mines that, financially,
save been for several months scarcely
better than self-5ustaiuiu.. Nevorthe-
less, the forcing OF 1870, 900 hungry men
into idleue5s at o tins when the none
tary stringruCy was already extraorli-
nary is q deed so entirely opposed to
all probabilities Of success that it Is
difficult to see how great distress can
be averted or how, when defeat or
desperation shall gosd these uufortu-
nate strikers on, it will be possible
10 avert bloody collisions with the law.
While the public very generally
sympsthizes deeply with the men who
compose this great organization, and
hopes to see them got batter wages
aud steadier work, it cannot forget
that an interstate strike Of these pro.
portions, incidentally hurtful at any
time. involves under the peculiar con-
ditionsin vogue at this period = blow to
the already depressed business interests
Of the whole country and to hundreds
Of thousands Of wage earners in other
branches Of industry. worse than any
which could be deal. by the employers
Of the land, and so iuconceivably uu-
wise as to suggest madness rather than
lucid design.