The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-13

"oAao W iCCtlc lucIll ucEcs 1 ue nluTy VI
your wrongs has been truthfully de-
picted by your officers, It has been por-
trayed in all Its hideousnees by the rep
,resentatiyes OF the press. men sent here
to seek out the truth and report the con-
ditions Us they really exist. and with ex-
ceptional unanimity the public has de-
clared that your cause Is just and that
tho responsibility for this unfortunate
strike rests solely upon the shoulders Of
those who employed you.
Strikers complimented.
Your own conduct during this strike.
even under the most trying clrcum-
stances, has won for you and your
cause the respect and conmendation OF
all Justice loving, patriotic people. vio-
lations OF law have been few In number,
and then only under circumstances In
which the miners were mot wholly at
fault. In fact 1t has been shown that
more overt acts have been committed
by those whose duty It Is to enforce the
law than by the mino workers, who
have been so erroneously pictured as
men entirely devoid OF respect for law
and order. For this you deserve much
credit. Labor organizations have no
greater enemies than the, thoughtless
strikers who violate the law orypermit
themselves to be provoked Into the
commission Of crime. 1t frequently oc-
ours in time Of strikes. that employers
provoke strikers Into violations OF the
law, with the hope and the expectation
that public sentiment will be arrayed
against the strike. and the military arm
Of the state can be secured to curb the
ment and defeat the objects for which
the strike was inaugurated. Whatever
may be your decision here to-day.
whether you end or continue the strike,
1t Is my earnest hope.tha every man
may regard It as his duty. not only to
obey but assist In enforcing the law.
Majority Must Rule.
When this strike was put Into effect
we declared that 1t would not end unless
a majority Of the delegates representing
the anthracite miners agreed to Its ter
minatIon. We repeatedly announced
that we would not undertake to decide
the future happiness or misery, the veal
or woe OF the 100000 persons dependent
upon the anthracite coal industry for a
livelihood. We believe that the men
WHO mine COAL that the men who work
In the collieries. that the boys who work
In the breakers, should all be consulted
before the officers OF your union declare
the strike at an end. Learning that the
operators had posted notices at their
mines offering an advance Of 10 per cent
on the wages formerly paid, we deemed
In our duty to call n convention and
permit the miners to pass Judgment on
the question OF It's acceptance or rejcc-
tlon.
Advice to Delegates.
In considering the proposition OF the
operators. I want the delegates attend
Ing this convention to be calm and dis
passionate, to consider the question In
all Its phases. to measure carefully the
chances OF success and the possibilities
of defeat should the strike be continued.
You must not reach conclusions hastily.
you must not over-estimate your
strength. and on the other hand you
should take every prccaution to pro-
tect yourselves against the avar!clous-
ness OF your employers. who. l regret
to say, have shown no disposition TO
treat you fairly In tho past, and who
have never shown any regard for the
welfare OF those who produce their
wealth.
For the first time In many years the
operators have recognized your demands
for better conditions OF employment,
and have offered an advance Of 10 per
cent In your wages. l am well aware
that this advance Is not satisfactory to
you. You have felt, and with Justice,
that definite period OF time should be
named during which this advance
should remain In force. Your expert
ence where wages are based on a sliding
scale has been so unsatisfactory to you
that you believe that the sliding scale
method OF determining wages should be
abolished, you also believe that the laws
OF Pennsylvania should .be obeyed by
the coal companies, and wages be paid
twice each month, you reserving the
right OF spending your earnings where
ever you choose .H
Admonished to Caution.
Whether 1t Is better at this time to In
sIst upon compliance with all your de-
mands Is q question which you who are
most interested. nre called upon to de-
eide. Personally. have hoped that We
should be able Mt some time to establish
the same method Of adjusting wage dif-
fercnces rs now exists in. the bitumin-
Gus coal regions. where employers and
miners delegates meet In joint inter-
state convention and like prudent,se
bic men, mutually agroe upon scale OF
wages, which remains In force for one
year, thus removing tho causes OF
strikes and lockouts. and even yet be-
licve that In future years the anthra-
cite operators will accept this humane
and progressive method OF treating with
their employees.
Labor organizations. like lnbor-snving
machinery. are here to stay. Capital
may for time refuse to. treat with
them, may because OF It's great power
retard the growth OF organizations for
n time, but like truth crushed to earth
they twill rise again." and will give