The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-06-16

The alleged temporary closing of
iron, steel and tin mills, the banking of
furnace fires and the reduction to half
time in mines in various localities, has
given rise to some speculation as upon
the real cause of this apparent stagna-
| ton in American industries and the
usual wild rumors are aflOat as to the
final outcome
While there has been no reason as
signed by some employers for the clos
ing Of mills, others have stated that It
is only the usual abatement incident to
the season, made conspicuous in this
case because of the increased activity
over that of other years, in that there
are a greater number thrown idle in
order to maintain the corresponding
percentage, by reason Of the former
Increased activity. Employees in touch
with the iron industry have expressed
to us the belief that it is ruse on the
part of employers to ward off the maxi
ling of what they term excessive de-
mands upon the part of the Amalgam-
ated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers. whose present scale ex-
lis generally understood, contemplate
demanding a general increase all along
the line to take effect after the expira-
ton of the existing scale.
While it cannot be disputed that
there is at least a degree of virtue in
both the arguments offered, it occurs
to us that this is not all nor is it the
real cause for the present seemingly
depressed condition of mineral indus
tries.
The iron, steel and tin industries as
is well known are almost completely
controlled by the trust and the coal
producers have made greater strides
in this direction recently than ever be-
fore, so that there is presented to
these captains of industry an oppor-
tunity to regulate their business af-
fairs in manner that was heretofore
impracticable by reason of a combina-
ton of circumstances over which they
had little control
Producers of both coal and iron have
had rather severe lessons on the evil of
|OverprOduction in recent years, and the
disastrous results which invariably fol-
low the Cutting of the markets lin
fact, if the formation of trusts are JUS
tifiable under any pretense they are
upon this one), so much so that in our
Opinion the true cause of present con-
ditions in the mineral world is due to
IA determination upon the part of iron
and coal producers to obviate this evil
by so regulatin gthe supply as to avoid
any overproduction in the markets and
thus shield themselves from the disas-
trous results which invariably follow
by reason Of the guerrilla connection
|resOrteG to
While workmen as a rule are In
clined to think they ARE the only real
sufferers where a system of cut throat
competition holds sway, yet the fact
remains that they only suffer in pro-
portion to the extent of their product
i've capacity, while the employer is
doomed to stand his proportional loss
upon the productive capacity of every
man in his employ For instance: Your
employer has upon the market a half
million tons of coal mined and paid for
at scale rates. A rate war begins and
this coal is disposed of at figure less
than the cost Of the production regard
less of transportation-you have lost
nothing, while your employer has sac
rificed fortune. Following this comes
a reduction in prices and the scale con-
tinues on downward tendency until
1t becomes a question of the "survival
of the fittest," and the man owning a
plant possessing the greatest natural
advantages is obviously the survivor.
Thus while we as workers suffered
hunger and privation our employer,
perhaps, lost fortune.
Coal and iron markets are not in a
congested condition, notwithstanding the
present inactivity, there is ample OPP
portunity to stock and their failure
| to take advantage of this suggests to
us their determination to avoid the
evil of overproductioin by a system
attic. business-like limitation OF output
Mine Worker.
'THE JAIL Bird