The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-25
Cost of the Coal Strike.

President Mcbride, of the Unite d
Mine Workers Of America, is quoted
in current interview rs having said
that within two weeks the 1875 900 an
thraeite miners of Pennsylvania will
have Joined in the big coal strike. Mr..
Mcbride has probably been misunder.
stood He can scarcely have made the
remark attributed to him; or, If he did,
ii must have been wiIhout ref ction
and at total variance with the truth.
No such intention is held by the an
thracite mluers. They have better
sense
In this general connection it is not
uninteresting to recall some pertinent
figures relating to the recent big strike
OF coal miners in England; that mas
sive labor battle in the peaceful settle
ment of which the earl OF Rosebery,
not yet prime minister, bore such a
creditable and successful part This
interruption of the processes of mining,
transportation and manufacturing,
lasted altogether sixteen weeks. The
normal output of coal during this time
fell from G3, 600, 900 to 80, 900. geo tons.
The miners surrendered S2i, 100000 in
wages, in round nuubers; the iron
workers lost Si3. 200, 900, factory and
workshop hands. through involuntary
ldlruess due to lack Of fuel, surrendered
Sl5. $40 600, and other losses increasa
the total 10 $9l, ,O4O. 600 This item. il
should be- understood refers solely to
wages. There were other items of loss.
The total loss Of net profits, divided
amoug huudleds Of industries, has been
conseryttlYrIy esimatsl ll 500, 2iS, Oij
while, owing to the increase price OF
coal oCcisioned by the strike, another
item OF loss is supplied amounting to
$S,S2S 600
Herr, then, we have an aggregate
money loss 70 the paopl, 4 Great
Britain ,zcsglins $l6G. 0JJ 900 as the
rysui. of six.e-n weeks suspension OF
the coal mining industry. Ihs com.
IutHtiou is rough one an omits TO
take into account the decline in values
inevitably due 10 any general co1ges.
tion OF industrial activities or the un-
avoiiable frjctions, jealousies and i'll
feeling which lie in the wake Of every
bitter difference between employers and
employed. But this amazing loss was
confined 20 a small country scarcely
larger than the comIinsd areas o:
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illi-
nois. What would be the result Of a
corresponding tie-up OF the industries
Of the United States, coming AZ the
moment when long business depre'-
sion had begun to show signs Of lift
ing, but when the country was not yet
fairly convslascent2 Upon whom
would such an incalculiulv ruinous
and Lurtful blow fall with greatest
heaviness, upon the rich or upon the
poor; upon the employers or upon the
employed toget er with their wives
and children?
The bituminOus miners Of our couu
Try are sincerely to be- pltird; first, De
cause Of the stern trend Of trade where
by their wages hava been forced down
below a lair margin Of adequate com
pensation; and secondly, because in the
attempt to right this accommodating
economic wrong they have chosen q
time when for every penny that they
wrest from their opponents they will
itfict thousands Of dollars Of loss upon
fellow workingmen in other industries,
upon the general business Of the coun-
Try and afterwards Indirectly upon
their own families and themselves.