The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-09
CONCESSIONS OF LABOR AND CAP
iIAL.

The gigantic strike In the coal mines of
Ohio. inaugurated on the first day of the
month. and involving $1,000 men directly
and a quarter of a million people indi-
rectly. including the families of the
miners. Is very unfortunate. coming as ii
does at time when the country Is just
emerging from a long Siege OF idleness
to a season Of prosperity. Mutual conces-
sions on the part OF the parties In inter
est. the miners and their employers. could
easily accomplish results that strikes can
never bring about. The breach Is only
widened bad blood engendered. property
destroyed. idleness prolonged and faIni-
lies beggared-these are the fruits OF I'M
necessary strikes. II is much easier for
contenilug parties to sit down and calmly
reason together before strike than IL is
after, for then there are no heartburnfngs.
The interests of labor and capital should
he mutual. and what should be Beneficial
to the one should be equally beneficial 10
the other: capital invested in enterprises
that bring remunerative returns can share
the profits with labor honestly employed
I'm producing these results. losing en-
terprise. on the other hand. that can be
made paying and productive by conces-
s,ons on the part OF labor, should be en-
couraged In the same spirit.
This coal miners strike is farther-reach-
Ing than is first apparent. 1t has effect on
Industrial establishments that were start
ing up after a season OF enforced idle
ness. In cutting of their fuel supply and
at the same time throw other classes OF
workmen and laborers out OF employment
In this way IT'S results are Widespread and
disastrous.
In the history OF the local mines OF
this state there is scarcely an instance
where any good was accomplished by
strikes IN Increasing the wages or In the
management of the properties. Miners
are proysrhial for their generosity. and
when times are good and wages ara high.
the community IN which they reside re-
ceivcs the benefit They act on the sup
position that money - a medium OF cir
cula'ion. AMI they circulate Il actively and
industriously In a pecuniary way they
may not beneft themselves, but they ben
eft the community at large.
Wages In she gold and silver mining
districts IN the Rocky mountains ana on
the Pacific coast are usually much higher
than IN the coal producing districts. ex-
periencsd miners readily commanding
from s. 20 IA Per day. and frequently
s. These have been the prevailing rates
for years. during dush times. hut since the
general depression. concessions have been
made IN order 20 keep the producing
mines open. In many OF the districts
whore mining companies and mine owners
have felt that tho prevailing prices for
silver and lead would not justify then, n
I working their properties. they have leased
the mines 20 thctr employees on royalty.
This system has proven very satisfactory
TO both parties 81 has enabled the miners
- make regular wages and frequently
something over while at the same time
x has been tie means % saving the mines
from nihng with water. The ma
chi9ery FROM rust. AMI the riuhers
fVon decay. Mutual interests are created
AMI saAserve3. ard where .ntelIiEsn,
workmen combine with reasoning and
conservative capital the results cannot re
other than satisfactory.