New-York tribune., 1897-08-31
STRIKE INCITED BY EMPLOYERS.

According 10 the statement Of President Do
Ian Of the United Mine Workers. Pittsburg Dis
t,.ict the great coal-miners strike was delb-
oratelv ins,icated by some Of the mine Oper-
a,ors in order to stop the mines and cripple
the work of another operator. Mr.. Dolan re-
lates that at the Pttsburg conference between
operators and miners he exposed the cause or
the strike thus
took the floor. I told them that I looked
into the faces Of many operators who had re-
neatedlv told me that II the miners officials
succeeded in bringing about suspension III
certain mines that were paying lower rale,
they would agree not only to pay W cents put
81 a ton | told them that we had Drought
about the suspension asked for. and they knew
! referred to the New-York and Cleveland Gas
Coal Companys mines. | explained to them
that we had brought about suspension In the
mines that seemed to bother them so nuch, ana
wanted them To keep their promises.
This charge be ii remembered. Is not made
by an enemy against the United Mine Work
ers. but by their own district president. In or
der 10 expose the conduct Of part Of the mine
operatOrs TO the shame which. if the charge he
true II certainly mered. this president himself
declared that he and his organization delil-
erately conspire1 with mine operators TO close
the mines Of rival who was underseng them.
and to force ont of employment the large body
of men working for him. who were receiving
wages with which they were content. II is the
astonishing feature of the business that this
official does not appear to comprehend the depth
of disgrace TO which his declaration exposes
himself and the organization. so far as il is
represented by him.
The company mentioned. which seemed to
bother the other mine operators much" Is the
H., a; tad th, no
whose pcrsstcncy in contending for fair and uni
form treatment of miners has reused the cnmiy
Of many mine operators. At Mr.. De Armitts
proposal the conference Of operators few weeks
ago was practically forced to assent to the uni
formity plan. which involves payment Of wages
every fortnight in cash. abolition Of the com
pany stores through which the workers were
virtually deprived of a share of their earnings.
and the appointment of official weghers AT
every mine 10 render true and honest accounts
of the quantity mined. These proposals are or
such vast importance to the miners that some
of the most prominent Of them have stated they
could better afford to work at the old wages.
with cash payments. no stores and fair weights.
than to work at any wages whatever without
those safeguards. Presumably il is the straight
forward and fair treatment Of men employed
which has rendered the miners of the New-Iork
and Cleveland Gas Coal Company unwilling To
strike and it is testified that hundreds of them
who stopped have declared that they would
gladly go TO work at once if they could be fully
protected against the vin1ictiveness Of the
strikers.
Thus it appears that the officials of the United
Mine Workers. according to President Dolan's
own statement. made war on the one conspic-
nous mining company which insisted upon hon
est and square dealing with the miners. at the
inst. t.gation Of mine operators who were both
cred so much" by that course At the confer
encc moreover. Colonel Rend n Chicago mine
operator. openly declared that National Presi-
dent Ra,chford of the United Mine Workers Lad
actually received large sums, in one instance
several hundred dollars from one Of the mine
operators, who wanted the strike in order 10
cripple the De Armitts, and when the charge
was denied he offered 10 produce proof Dy the
operators who paid the money. 1t does no,
follow that the payments, If made. involve any
corrupt action on the part Of Mr.. Ratchford. the
National president who may conccivably Lave
stipulated for large contributions 10 the fund
Of his organization by the mine operators as
condition OF creating the strike they desired
and closing up the mines Of the DE Armts
But. even II that were the fact II would appear
that this warfare by the United Mine Workers
against the company which insists upon fair
and honest dealings, and against the miners
who so appreciated such dealings that they re-
fused to strike. was not only instigated but
actually bought by the rival operators. II IS
difficult TO characterize such conduct as il de-
serves. If the declaration Of President Dolan
alone be accented rs true, this organization OF
mine workers cannot he called in any sense n
defender Of the rights or interests of labor.