The evening times., 1900-09-27
Circulation Statement.
Hanna and the Coal Trust.

The principal point of interest in connec-
ton with the anthracite coal strike yes
terday was a meeting at the Wai Street
office of J. Pierpont Morgan, attended by
Senator Hanna and several leading mag
mates of the Coal Trust. What passed at
the conference is not definitely known out
side Of the limited circle of conferees and
their trust allies, but enough has leaked
out to make it certain that Mr. Hanna
took high ground and demanded that the
strike should Immediately be settled. no
matter at what sacrifice OF policy, pride,
or profit on the part OF the trust. He Is
known to have declared that the last hope
Of McKinley's election hinges upon the pla'
cation of the labor element of the coun-
try and the suppression of such trust
object lesson as is presented to the gem
eral public by existing conditions in the
anthracite coal field.
AS a result of the meeting coal shares
advanced on change, and a report that an
agreement had been reached, and that
the whole trouble with the miners would
be settled within three days, was indus
triously circulated by bull traders. The
report, if based on anything tangible, vas
doubtless premature. It is evident tha-
the Coal Trust sees defeat staring it in
the face The strike movement is stron-
ger today than ever, and it has the sym
pathy OF the country to an extent never
before shown for labor in conflict with
oppression. The trust magnates had hoped
that a settlement between the Markles
and their men in Luzerne county would
break the strikers front. But the event
showed that out Of twenty-eight hundred
miners employed in the Markle mines,
only thirty five voted for further negotia
tfons with the firm.
Smarting under public condemnation for
their rapacity and inhumanity, ard as
sailed by the demand of the united trust
influence represented by Hanna, Bliss.
Stillman, Rockefeller, and Havemeyer,
that they make concessions, and submit
to whatever may be necessary to remove
q deadly peril from the trust campaign
the Coal Trust ma gnates have been prac-
tically driven TO the wall.
In The circumstances it is not doubted
that they are willing to concede some
OF the miners demands, ard TO redress
some If their grievances, if that can be
accomplished in way not to bind opeT-
ators after the Presidential election. But
there is danger that nothing can be
done TO stop the strike at once. short
of recognizing the Miners Union, and
that act would have a lasting effect. the
very idea of which the Coal Trust mag
mates refuse to contemplate. A middle
course is what they are seel1ing-ore
that would save their face, and not in
Y
cheH and the United Mine Workers Il
they can find such a way out, and only
bind themselves for a couple of months
they Will be willing to meet the views oi
Hanna and the consolidated trust infiu-
ence. They are not asked to do justice
to the miners under any permanent
agreement or even under one TO last a
year All that Hanna demands or wants
is to postpone the final struggle between
the anthracite workers and the trus s
beyond the 9Th of November.
The intelligence and solid organization
which have marked the movement on the
part of the strikers, justifes the belief ths
they are not likely to be much deluded b,
fair words or promises of the value O.
which they have been forewarned The,
viii hardly accept the interposition of mel
representing trusts as monopolistie ant
oppressive as the Coal Trust, with simple
faith that it is based upon philanthropit
desire to see them get their rights. ant
have their wrongs remedied. The labor
ers of this country are not as ignorant o
the trust menace to their Iibertfe.
and their chance 10 stave of
starvation as they were four years ago
Consequently, whatever the Coal Trus
may be driven to offer will probably hav
TO be substantial, fairly permanent, an,
adequately secured, or it will be decline
without thanks.