The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-22
TROOPS ORDERED OUT



and definite as to leave no further room
TO. Misunderstanding.
The striking mine workers recognize
as their real opponents in this struggle
for a slight amelioration of the hare
grinding conditions of the average min
er's life nine railroads: Pennsylvania
Railroad company, Lehigh Valley Rail
/ road system, Delaware and Hudson
Railroad company, Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad company
Central Railroad company of New Jer-
say, Philadelphia and Reading Railway
company, Erie Railroad and New York
Susquehanna and Western railroad
Delaware, Susquehanna and Schuylkil
company and the New York, Ontario
and Western railway.
These nine railroad corporations, be
sides producing approximately 70 PEI
cent. of the hard coal, are the sole
carriers to tide water of all coal mined
in the anthracite field of Pennsylvania
Incredible as it may appear they
charge three times as much to carry q
ton of anthracite coal 100 miles as is
charged to carry ton Of btuminous
are the rates that the legitimate profits
which should be credited to the mining
departments of the railroads ar absorb
ed by freight rates and as conse-
quence their coal properties are made
to show very small profit on theil
capitalization.
If this Is the state of affairs with the
railroad mining departments, what is
the condition of the Independent oper-
ators. 1t is not matter of reason
that he can do nothing that his rail-
read master will commend. 1t is a
matter of notoriety that he does moth
ing which the railroad does not sane
ton Therefore, l, speaking for the
10000 mine workers this day on strike,
recognize these railroads as our real
enemies and their presidents as respon-
sible for refusal to arbitrate or even
confer upon the differences which have
grown up between them and their own
employees, who, through delegates Sc
lected by themselves. met in convention
In the city of Hazleton on August l3
and framed a list Of grievances which
were mailed to the general superin-
tendents of the mining departments of
these railroads accompanied by an In
vitation to meet in joint convention on
August q for the purpose Of discussing
and if possible agreeing upon such
changes in the scale of mining and con-
ditions as employment as were war
ranted by the conditions of the coal in
dustry. But the invitation was not
even acknowledged. These grievances,
which the miners recited in their cir
cular, formed the ground for the pres
ent strike. We can only regard such
Independent operators as G. B. Markle
&, Co. in the light of fellow vfctoms with
ourselves and ives should regard arbi-
tration with any or all of such indi-
vidual opera tors as absolutely not call
etilated TO advance the cause of the
great body of anthracite mine workers,
but on the contrary to bring their GER
tain defeat; 1t Is an absurdity from
business point Of view to even assume
that Markle or any other individual
operator could continue to pay higher
rate of wages than his competitors, the
railroad companies, for any considera-
BILE length of time, and in fact, it is
well known within the mining regions
that the individual operators, including
Marke impose conditions of employ
ment upon their men which in some in
stances are more objectonab Bile than
those imposed even by the large COR
porations. For these reasons / hold
that it would be fatal mistake for us
to consent to any partial settlement of
this strike, or to agree to other than
general resumption of work. This Is a
fight of all for each and each for all,
and to be successful there must be no
break in our line of action 1t ought
to go without saying at this late date
that / am staunch advocate of the
principle of arbitration and did not I
personally favor these principles, the
laws Of the organization Of which | am
president makes arbitration one of it's
cardinal tenets.
In Indianapolis last January $50 OPP
orators and $50 miners delegates, rep
an annual output of 100000
tons of bituminous coal In western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and H.
linois, met In conference and mutually
a greed that the miners earnings should
advance % 20-100 per cent.
AS a result Of this conference and 9TH
ar similar ones In the states west of
he Mississippi river and south of the
ohio river. 120 600 mine workers received
IN advance in their earnings aggregat-
ng $12, coo 900 in one year. thus preclud-
ng even the possibility of a strike for
me full year, at the end of which they
will meet in Joint conference to renew
he contract and make such changes in |
he wages paid as are justified and |
by the cost of production
md the values of coal in the markets. |
Because / am aware that there is ser- |
us, if misguided repugnance on the |
,art of the railroad carriers in the an |
hrac.te field to recognize our organi- |
alton or its officers, the mine workers
rganization repeat what | have pub
cly and privately stated before, and I
or any of my official colleagues will
SIX to be recognized or consulted by the
line owners if the officers or represent
atives OF these great railroad compan-
IS will select committees of their own
mp Dyes and come to a peaceful agree
lent Provided, however. that such
differences between the various com
anies and committees. representing
leir own employees will meet in sepa-
ate halls in the same city and on the
anne date, This provision Is inserted
ecause, heretofore. when committees
resented grievances to any of these
reat companies they were invariably
let with the argument that the com
q ny E1nv I