New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05
ONE COST or CIVILIZATIONS.

In course of time somebody will write most
instructive book OH the wanon wastes of mod
crn civilization Among them it will describe
as not by. any means the least important or
costly the waste involved 10y strikes Whether
the responsibility should be thrown more large
" upon employers or employed i a minor ques-
zion. The point of first importance is that civil
jZation wastes an enormous sum by leaving
wage disputes to be settled at the end of pro
longed and costly struggles. in which the losses
OF capital and sulierings of labor are the forces
employed to compel adjustment.
1t is said that many of the bltuminons coal
miners have been at the point of starvation
when cmploved at the wages recently paid. but
they are somehow able to subsist. and TO travei
considerable distances to bcscge other miners
who want to continue working. and to hire
brass bands and support leaders who are flying
about the country on railway trains and stop
ping at good hotels in 81. Louis, Cleveland 20
lumbus. Wheeling or pittsburg. The miners
who were starving do not bear all THIS expense
it is true. but their part is considerable. for they
get along for months without wages when Il
insufficient at least kept them alive. If there
are 10000 idle. and many put the NUMBER mucn
higher. and if their wages average no more than
have seen. the direct loss 10 the miners them
selves is $4,000 day and S1,OOO'ooo III lor'!
DAYS. besides all the expenses of the besiesins
process and the cost Of supporting leaders anu
delegates. All ordinary estimates are much
higher The fact that part may he borne d!
other workers who are not striking nor disSatiS-
fed with their wages does no, lessen the amount
hut ONLY changes the distribution of the aggre-
.I,,
1t is much more difficult TO calculate the loss
of capital. In this particular ease the dllh'ui'F
is greatly increased by the fact that the mine
owners have certainly been reaplng prohts on
one side if sustaining losses OH the other. They
could evidently have afforded 10 pay all the coS'
of the strike for n month or two, when they
have not done. in order TO Get the hGher prices
which they have realized for the great accumu-
lated stock of coal belonging TO them when me
Struggle began Add TO this their gain ny St
curing a high and profitable marker al NHich
70 sell when they resume work. and at least for
some time thereafter, and one may reaIlZe 'Ia'
the mine operators could well have afforded to
pay 10 leaders Of the United Nine Workers ho'
merely pttance of few hundred dOiiarS' ~
has been alleged, but million or more IN order
to bring about n struggle temporarily so adNah-
taCeoils Nevertheless, II is an unyleldihG eco
monte law that losses for them. as well as ior
the workers-and very large losses, too-muSt
follow prolonged suspension of production.
If is obvious enough that the interests of the
mine operators were not the same. Some OF
them were engaged in persuading the miners
10 strike in order TO cripple the operations OF
other mine-owners. Some were ready ana Will
ing to pay higher wages. provided thcy couiu
retain their company stores and other cuSlohidI!
methods of dealing, while other mne-oWhefS
could not pay higher wages without loss On
the side of the men there was also evident III
versity Of interest Many took part in the strike
only because bound to do 50 by the decision oil
the majority IN the mines at which thcy WORKED
Others were persuaded TO strike as a means OF
benefitinc other mine workers. though theh-
selves contented with their wages. DINERS sun
were practically forced, after repeated refusaiN'
"a sion work at the demand and for the beneht
NJ other miners. and did SO with reluctance. IL
&c never possible to find out how large pro-
portion of the miners enter into such struggle
voIrn,orilv But the interests Of the men who
struck and Of the officials who represented them
roro NOT tbo same No charge Of corruption
need he considered But it is clear that men
who are fighting to maintain their places As
salaried agents and officials, and TO make it APP
near that they are as jealous and radical az the
least conservative Of the men who choose them
have an interest which is distinctly not 'ha' Oh
tho multitude they represent. Nor does tho
strike Of coal-mncrs in this respect diiicr ma
terially from many others, which waste me
means OF employers and employed with no ui'l'
mate benefit TO either.