The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-28

scribed made II possible for the coal opera.
tors OF Nova Scotia to fl the markets of
the eastern seaboard with coal at such low
rates that the coal from the mines in the
United States which had formerly supplied
that market were driven westward into
competition with western coal. and the
rare war followed with disastrous results
to every miner in the country While Mr..
Hanna's mines suffered along with others
In the general reduction in prices of coal
and loss of eastern market he did not re.
duce the wages of his men to so low q
figure as those Of other mines, preferring
to bear q share of the loss rather than
compel his employees to accept wages below
what he felt to be necessary for the sup
port of their families. But the general
price Of mining fell step by step from the
moment OF the passage OF the Wilson law,
and as result came the great strike of
1897. Nearly quarter of a million miners
went out, while thousands of other labor
Ing men In and out of the organizations of
the country sympathized with them, as
did the press and the public generally. Not
only did the public sympathize with these
men, but there was general anxiety and
even alarm as to the effect upon business,
manufacturing, transportation, and even
the comforts and necessities of homes in
case the coal producers of the country
should generally refuse to continue their
which burn everywhere and are neces-
sity to human existence. Millions of dol
lars were being lost Ia wages by the min
ers and others whose employment was of.
fected by the strike, and hundreds of mil.
lions of business interests were prejudiced.
The attitude of Senator Hanna and the
company in which he is interested, In the
Pittsburg district, during the strike, was
on the side Of the miners. Mr.. Hanna in.
sisted that the men were entitled to better
pay and to fair arbitration and adjust
ment Of their differences with the opera.
tors. In this he was vigorously supported
by his general manager, Mr.. Thomas e.
Young, and other officers Of the company.
When some of the other operators of the
country proposed to evlct the strikers and
open the mines with new men, and by
force, II necessary, Mr.. Hanna's company
refused to be party to the movement,
and the firm stand taken by this company
put an end to that proposed action, which
undoubtedly would have been attended by
disorder the destruction of property and
probable bloodshed. 1t was Mr.. Hanna's
proposition to advance the rate for min
Ing in the district, and 1t was largely
through his influence and that of General
Manager Young, representing his interests,
that the compromise which resulted in rails
ing the scale to Go cents per ton was Of
fered and finally accepted and the great
strike of 1897 ended. To Mr. Young, as
representative of the Hanna interests, as
much as to any other man among the act
ing operators, does the credit of this sat
isfactory and peaceable settlement belong;
fact fully confirmed by Patrick Dolan,
president, and William Warner, secretary
of the United Mine Workers of Western
Pennsylvania and others conversant with
all the facts.
Contrast Mr. Hanna's attitude in this
great crisis with the silence and iuactiOn
of Horace L. Chapman, also "A coal mine
operator. who refused to take a single step
or say single word in behalf of the min
ers and their just claims, and you will be
able to determine who is the real labor
crusher"