Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-12-01

A few days ago, at Mt. carmel, Fa',
106 delegates directly representing w.
900 anthracite coal miners, and prac-
tically acting for many more, formed
the Lower Anthracite Region district
of the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea, embracing the counties of North
cumberland, Schuylkill, Columbia and
Dauphin. Before this action was
taken, nearly all these Pennsylvania
miners had been unorganized. From
the preamble and resolutions adopted
at this meeting l quote the followlng'
1.-THE condition of miners in the anth-
racite regions has for several years
been such as to excite the sympathy,
not alone of the miners of the United
States, but that of the general pubic
as we'll. To better this condition we
believe it is necessary to bring into
one grand organization all miners and
mine laborers throughout the country.
We recognize that the United Mine
Workers of America is the only labor
organization today in existence that
can bring about this most desired re-
suit. We deprecate strikes except as
n last resort, as a means OF setting
disputes and desire that such differ-
ences be settled by a proper and effec-
tive method of Cancellation and arbi-
tration. such as can be brought about
and nut into beneficial effect for all
concerned by the coal workers of the
country binding themselves solidly to-
gether in organization. We apply our
efforts to the work Of organizing the
coal workers who are not yet members
of the organization in order that they
may be part of our number, that we
NAV more effectively cooperate in the
work of securing better conditions for
the benefit Of the entire number" The
points made in above paragraphs are
correct and up to date. These anthra-
cite miners know that to secure better
conditions 1t Is essential for all miners
in the United States to cooperate; to
cooperate they organize; they organ
lie not in bodies isolated from others,
but into the one great miners union
already in existence, which itself, In
turn. is a member of the Federation
of Labor, the largest compact body OF
workers in this country. Evidently
this method of organization is not only
correct. but the only method that can
prove effective. 1t is the Trust prin-
ciple, pure and simple, not tainted by
wrong methods of execution. 1t in
sures singleness Of purpose in devising
WAYS to gain ends, and harmonious,
intelligent action in carrying out plans.
In another part Of Pennsylvania, where
the bituminous coal miners have been
we'll organized in the United Iron
Workers for some time, one set OF
miners has been for several weeks try
ing to effectively cooperate" with an
other. At Arnot the coal company de-
clined to pay the union rate OF wage
elsewhere in force, and a strike en-
sued: in the Tobey valley, about $50
miles from Arnot, several thousand
miners. in the employ Of the same
coal company, have gone on strike for
the purpose Of forcing the company to
pay the same wages at Arnot that 1t
does in the Tobey valley. Here's a
trust method-to wit: To coerce man
TO do what he doesn't want to do, and
doesn't have to do, by inflicting losses
upon him. This method doesn't al
ways commend itself as a righteous
one. and frequently acts as a sword,
that cuts at the handle as sharply as
at the other end. It's generally fight
ing FIRE with fire. The coal company
concerned has declared that as soon as
the strike shall have been disposed OF
it will institute criminal proceedings
against those local officers of the Unit
ed Mine Workers who called the SYM
pathetic strike in the Tobey valley into
existence. 1t may succeed in convict
ne these men, but I don't think it will
Or can succeed in preventing the agita-
lion and creation Of sympathetic
strikes. The trust Of muscle and skill
will develop just as the trust Of money
in its several forms of investment Is
developing, and on the same lines. II
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