The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-09-20
Congressman. Sixth District
PAGE MORRIS of Duluth.
A RIGHTEOUS STRIKE.

One hundred and forty thousand
coal miners in the anthracite dis
trict of Pennsylvania are out on a
strike for better wages and the cor
rection of palpable abuses. 1t is
asserted that these grimy toilers
underground, subjected to severe
labor and no little peril, are paid,
on an average, the pitiable sum of
something less than $500 a year,
and compelled to take large per
cent of that in orders for goods in
stores owned by the mine opera.
ting companies, who make from
them an exorbitant profit on their
goods.
That such a condition demands
rectifying is too apparent for de-
fence. The only wonder is that it
has been tolerated so long without
a united protest.
The so-called coal barons-many
of the mines being operated by
gigantic railroad corporations-de-.
serve no sympathy in the forced
suspension of their business, either
from miners on the one hand or
consumers on the other. They are
as arbitrary in their selling price of
coal as they are in fixing wages for
their laborers. Public opinion is
Enthusiastically with the strikers.
They will have the benefit of that
powerful factor in correcting the
evils of which they have been the
victims providing they do not for
felt it by wanton violence in the
destruction of life and property.
The management of the strike
seems to be with cool heads and
clean hands, and if they succeed i'll
controlling the immense body of,
miners they will be entitled to hon-
or and respect. May the strike be
soon settled upon basis which
will recognize the value of honest
labor.
In this connection the Minneapolis
Journal says:
The anthracite miners did not quit
work in a body on Monday. The Off
Gals of the United Mine Workers,
however, report that $4,000 of the
$4,000 miners employed went out and
over half the mines are closed. The
miners who hesitate will, doubtless,
soon be coerced to join the strikers.
The majority having gone out, all
precedents show that it is not very
difficult matter to arrest all produce
ton. 1t is. not Improbable that the
railway employees will alphabetically
refuse to serve on trains carrying an
thracite coal. The blockade will then
be complete and anthracite will soon
reach sky-scraping prices. The opera
tors cannot get their coal to market.
The country will call for anthracite in
vain for some time unless the opera
tors or the men give way. The power
of labor combination is grea.. 1t is
getting as powerful as capitalistic
combination. Many millions of capt.
tai will earn nothing formonths. The
surplus bituminous coal, which is all
wanted in Europe. at a good price, will
have to be used at home instead of an
thracite.
The tribunal of public, opinion, in
the absence of any Justification of the
attitude of the operators put forth by
themselves or any refutation of the
statement of their grievances by the
miners grayitates strongly toward the
miners side. The official representa-
tives of the miners nave SO far been
conservative and prudent. They show
that they have earnestly sought to
settle the difference at conference or
by arbitration. The operators have
been doggedly silent and noncommit-
tai. The interests, industrial and
commercial; which will be affected by
this strike, are vast and important.
Incarnate selfishness blocks the way
to arbitration, the true and easy
remedy for the difficulty. Upon whom
then, reststhe heavy weight OF respon-
sibility for the possible loss and great
suffering incidental to such . strike !?
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