The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-25
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.


THE MINERS
In the absence Of any violent meas
ures the miners strike rsolyes itself into
mere matter Of business which could
be contemplated with the same eqnanImity
with which All business differences are
regarded. II che miners and thelr families
wire rot SO much IN need Of food. While
the sagacious leaders OF the miners arc
holding the men IN lie most admirably
ara winning sympathy which Is growing
IS the Etfike pFagr ss. De1s Is strly-
Ing 10 create trouble ia directions where
there need be none. and uttering violent
speeches. calculated 20 infame those who
have nothing whatever 10 do with tho
controversy. and whose aia. IL enlisted.
would be confined to smashing and set
ting fire 10 things Debs says tho hour
has come to call halt And It would be
the greatest blessing to the workingmen
of this country II the halt could be on
Debs. But no will not halt; he viii
keep going on. He does not give good
advice; he has no personal influence with
thu strikers; he rarely uses his Judgment,
and then always in the wrong direction:
and he has already done more harm than
the real leaders OF the strike have done
good.
There are men upon whom the anxietles
of the strike have fallen who have DEM
onstrated a remarkable capacity not only
for leadership. but for diplomatic nego-
iiationH. They may not be- successful.
perhaps although all not owning mines
VIII hope they may be-hut they have
won the respect Of the people. and tho
outcome OF their labors has shown that
they exercised good Judgment. Debs IL
erratie. infiammatory. unreliable. and has
shown his incapacity for management of
men when the responsibility devolved up
ON him. He has mech energy. and might
answer the purposes Of steam ia a loco
motive, bat Il would never do 10 trust
him rs an engineer; and Ike steam. he
must be kept Under control or he viii
burst up the whole business. aud include
the engineer IN the general wreck.
Although al the efforts ut arbitration
seem 20 have failed. and Il is not alto
gether easy 20 determine the merits OF
the differences which stand in the way
of a settlement. the report OF Judge Ter
hume IS entitled % consideration.
Gov. Mount Of Indiana. appointed
Judge Terhuuo commissioner 20
investigate the conditions ana
grievances OF the striking coal
miners OF that state lie saws THAI S.boo
families IN the Indiana mining Districts
are completely destitute. and that unleaa
relief is Afforded tho result VIII Re beyond
Imagination. We had some surplus pro-
visions 10 this country which might have
come IN very useful FOR these unfortunate
American miners bur thew were needed In
india Hundreds % men Ia Indiana have
not had a dollar Tor months. ana their
unfortunate families are living On the
seantiest meals.
judge Terhune declares that she op,r-
ators are 20 blame. and said that the
soener they are forced 10 adjust The prtea
Of ooal ~ as 10 enable them to ray ree-
senaeaie Wages to their employee. the soon
sr the miners troubles viii end t-ntn
the operators have rcfuted this. ,hat Of
fetal opinion must he accepted as The true
version 81 the difficulty.
II az the mine owners should arfes so
pay a certain scale ef waees tbey woa,i
al have 20 sell their product 81 u,iee
heh enough 10 make provision Tor the
Increased rate. Their objection Ia a uni
fern scale Is that the conditions are nat
uniform. Il Is much easier e. res coal
on IN some districts thaa rs others. zrs
81. d
e Iay no rore per- tea taan tbosc Nhe~s
coal s. hsra 20 m.ae ao aesaalgty IS rre-
atea ehlch places the latter AZ "a DIS
aaysntase tn tao market Ihis ia way
she operators ~ one dlsgr3c: consider it
unfair TO be compelled oe adept the same
rules as tn another District whue TIE
miners Insist Ssor "a sat rate Of ~ cents
without regard 70 tAese very Important
considerations. 1t would scera rs n that
rate itself would create af 8neauelty in
The pay o. the miners because some
would earn IS so m0ch uafe eazsas shsa
others. and the difference vcaa8 create a
Dissatisfaction.
The proposition made hv the sne~as,~s
does aae seem 80 Pc very pxa-tfestla .-
necessary. They sugsesg shat tee rsf..~,
resume operations wlthoas prtee Named.
- ~ ia'erra s8late rates peotfrr aaes
sion az heard - Arbitration. TIE strtk,
has been going or now ror several weeks.
and week longer souli ace make rsacn +
difference, The board ef arnlrrauon csu.t +
determlne what rate shsola sz pafs snss
a. well before tee mea weet to vogk as .
after. and Il wcald ee nuea rsore sats.
factory than having a se>oaa strife
throash faiiuve 20 asree II Is natural /
perhaps. fer the eperaterz te want 70 ee. 4
the men 70 work first SO as - lose 10