The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-06

l1ucc Their Freights-Arbitrati ton
the Only Solution Of the Problem.
Samuel p. Long, pastor of the First
Methodist Episcopal church, preached
last night on 1.-The Church and the
Strike" taking for his text the words
of Christ, as found in Matthew, 11-28,
"Come unto Me. all We that labor and
are heavy-laden, and 1 will give you
rest" He said:
These are the words Of the
greatest labor leader that the world
has even seen and one whom the world
he uttered these. words the working
pressed a friend who was himself a
working man, who, now-unlike so
many other men In changed conditions
did not forget the sorrows and poverty
the worst boss is the man who has come
up from among those who he now
makes feel the weight of his power.
The church, through all ages. has
been the friend Of labor: the almoner
Of the poor; the succorer Of the: needy:
worthy of his hire, and that hire suffi-
Gent to supply him with modest COM
forts in his life. The spirit of Christ
church. through all ages. has been to
Of storm and shadow of great
rock in a weary land. When Christ
walked through Palestine there was no
labor organizations: human life was
cheap, and little regard was had for
the laborer. or his rights, but under
changes have taken place.
Slavery has vanished. the value of
life has risen, and the working man
is citizen whose children may sit
among the rulers Of the people, A blow
delivered at, the laborer is blow de-
livered against, the nation, and the
church of Christ.
With this statement in view. let us
notice some of the factors entering
into the great coal strike. In the an
900 men are employed, wage earn
ers to more than 100000 people. Owing
to distressing conditions this great
army of men have gone out on strike,
and the INCOME nee Of 100000 S,I persons has
attention to some points in the history
of the social conditions Of this region.
Thirty or forty years ago, In the dis
trict where the tragedy Of the great
strike is being enacted. the miners
were we'll paid; were men who aver
aged we'll with their brother workmen
in thrift, morals and intelligence. Many
were frugal and had saved from their
earnings to purchase the: little. home
Americans, but were the material out
Of which the best of Americans have
sprung; Irish, English, German, Welsh
and Scandinavian. There grew up,
however, in the late COS. and early 70s,
difficulties between the miner and the
operator. over wages, the company store
and hours Of labor. During this period
there came into prominence two sOcie-
ties; one, the ;infamous" Molly Mcguire. Z
which is distinguished as the worst
SrganizatiSon this county has ever
Benevolent associate n.,,' was one, of
ts bsAff5 and 4ah2f
appliances in the mines: abolished COM
pany stores; helped regulate the proc
ductiOnS of coal: secured weekly ash
payments for the men: inspected the
weighing Of coal, and looked in an econ
omical and effective way after. the in
surance of the miners. s. s;ss::ss5 .*5z
But in the overthrow OF the murder
Gus Molly Maguires it was destroyed
and efforts have been made ever since
tot regain the ground lost at that time.
late sos, but failed. Three years ago
another attempt was made, but ended
with the SLAUGHTER at Latimer.l1z
In an evil hour the operators decided
, to supplant their old men with new
races, brought from Italy, Bohemia,
Poland and Hungary. These new men
worked for much lower wages than the
men from northern Europe: could be
housed in shanties, fed from company
stores and generally treated in a man
respecting miner would not stand foi
a moment. The little home that the
miner had purchased with his hard
earned money was sold at a sacrifice
and the owner moved to other places
using the purchase money in trying t.
get other work, and there moved into
the Monochrome too large for the Corn
wall miner and. his children-four CT
five families who were huddled to-
gether after the manner of the slums
newcomers were instantly disliked by
the community about them. Many vi
the old miners settled down in the
vicinity and as their hatred was in
their places, this feeling deeply per
meated the whole community, and has
never died out. :.
When we think that the sheriffs> and
the old miners or their friends. and re-
member the inflammable condition Ct
the new people, we are not SURPRISE
that, in the strike of 1897. men were
needlessly shot down at Latimsr and
in the riot the other day one man was
It is to the credit of Mr.. Mitchell
president of the United Mine. Workers
and of General Goblin, of the national
guard of Pennsylvania. that things
have been in the peaceful condition OF
the past week. The present strike Is ali
outgrowth of the old conditions. and
| one of the largest the country has ever
witnessed, not only in. number Of men,
but in extent of territory, there being
400 square miles of coal land affected
The strike reduces the production Of
anthracite coal over rs per cent. and
| should it continue over two months
there would be, loss in wages, $10,O00,-
900; loss to railroads. $40, 900 900: loss
to mine owners, $4,000, 900.
Since so much is involved in the
strike to the 100000 men, women and
children who are thus left without in
come: to commerce, which is partially
paralyZed: there must have been some.
thing peculiarly aggravating in. the
situation. For 100000 men will not
throw down their tools and quit work
with the long fall and winter before
them. on account of a passing whim
The strike has been deliberately plan.
ned and entered into advisedly. -
First-They demand: the abolition Of
the company stores, the adoption of 9
fortnightly pay day. instead of 9
monthly one. It has been stated thai
! the state had law, making it impera:
| tive on the mine owners to nav theil
! men in cash, and not in food: but this
$eS ~ W. ,roI>E 1nx