The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-13
LAB0R'S STRUGGLE
FOR SUPREMACY Is BECOMING
MORE HITTER EACH DAY.
The Opposition to the Miners in the
Present strike Is Not 80 Much
Against Their Demu ndx ns it is
the Fear of Strengthening Their
VniOn-The Labor Orgnnizu tiOnS
Really Get Stronger After Each
Battle.
(By John B. Wilson.)

In reading the comments Of some of
our leading newspapers on the anthra-
cite coal strike and from the state
n1ents of the operators themselves, 1t
appears to be the belief that the strike
is the result of interference on the part
of the organization and not from the
fact that the men were underpald, for,
as they state, IF the men had been
left to themselves they never would
have sruck.' That this Is an error is
true, and in justice to not only the men
directly affected but to the organiza-
ton as whole, should be corrected.
Taking into consideration the report of
the committee before the industrial
commission, the report of the commit
tee sent by the medical association Of
that state and our own practical
knowledge Of the field, there Is ~
question but that the strike was justi-
fable. There is no place on this great
continent presenting a more dismal
and distressful picture of crushed hu-
manity than the anthracite coal fields
Of Pennsylvania, and the outward and
visible signs of poverty and distress as
reported by the various committees
sent there are only indicative of how
much is suffered of which the publi1
knows absolutely nothing. 1t is one
long continued struggle for existence
a desperate battle with conditions that
should never have existed in this great
land Of free and equal rights to all.
Less than half century ago a gigan-
tic struggle was preciptated over the
wrongs and sufferings of four millions
of people. The sympathies of the nation
were aroused over what was consid-
cred the mOnstrous sin and evil of
American slavery, yet here we are face
to face with a slavery far worse in eV-
cry essential respect, more degrading
and more terrible than that which was
known before the civil war. This dis
tressful picture of crushed humanity
in the anthracite coal fields is surely
an exemplication Of that statement
which is being daily forced upon us of
land where wealth accumulates and
men decay Il. 4; N. !, .sss. b.
ss.sI The GlegApl
every INTEL gent obseTvor abund ndantfy
prove 1t. On every hand may be seen
the evidence of this acquired wealth
Immense establishments have been
erected and surplus profits have been
invested in ways which have added
many more millions to the aggregate
possessed. Not content with this, they
have amalgamated forces-formed
trusts-the result Of which is to more
and more oppress American labor, to
control the situation with a firmer
hand, to reap larger profits, to prevent
by every means possible the complete
organization of American labor and
compliance with it's just demands.
That this is especially true of the an
thracite coal fields can not be success
fully disputed. Here a mere pittance
is paid the miners, and not satisfied
with the miserable wages they pay
them, they COMPEL the people to trade
in "pluck-me" stores and pay exorbi.
tant prices for everything they use anc
get. Not content, this band of high.
waymen hold up the consumer anc
make him pay extortionate rates fol
the coal he uses, and the wonder i:
there has not been an outbreat before
this in consequence of the open plum
dering to which the people have beel
subjected. 1t is no longer the Roman
against the Hungarian, but the corpor
alton as agaist the union. The readi
ness with which state militia are sen
to the scene of strike when men are