The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-17
Significance OF
The New Coal Deal

| From the Wilkes. Barre Daily News
r He SCRANTON TRIBUNE notes among other
1 things as results OF the acquiring OF the
L individual collicries by large concerns the
giving up OF the new coal road to tide, and
the complete subigation OF the remaining indi-
yi,iual OPERATORS = y Just what the recent
strike has had to do with bringing about the
present Capitalization of capital cannot at the
present be estimated but probably good deal.
Capital always timid OF investment, shrinks with.
in its cover when intcrfercnces limited and the
power OF dealing with conditions like this Is
more assured in case of Capitalization than otl-
crwisc The last strike brought about a dispute
as TO the 10 per cent. advance between the big
concerns, which authorized it. and the smaller
concerns, which stood out against it. Centraliza-
ton then, both OF labor and capital. seems to be
in the air. One breads to think what may some.
time be the outcome in case of a prolonged dif
ference between perfectly consolidated labor and
perfectly consolidated capital.
And this brings up another phase of the ques
tion-thc relation of employer to cnployc. 1t
has frequently been pointed out that the large
interests of capital, such are being perfected
in this country now. and such as have for some
time been in operation. do not ever sustain the
same relation to the employees as formerly, when
employer and employed were more closely in
touch. Look at the case Of the Coyes great in
tcrcsts For years the Coke family lived at the
scene oi their coal interests, and not only were
the owners OF the property in close touch with
their men, but Mrs. Coke herself personally
looked after the wants of the families in the
small settlement. She visited their homes. She
knew most of them by name. She made it
burden of her own when they were in trouble
or sickness and she often personally ministered
to them and attended them. The of the
West End Coal company is also in point. There
the personal influence of the president of the
company had much to do with keeping the men
at work when all their thousands of fellow work
crs throughout this section were idle For some
years the president of the company has stood
i'll close relation with his men. lie has known
them by name and they have all known him.
He has eye to their comfort and well being;
has arranged every year Christmas celebration
which included the presentation of turkeys to the
employees and Christmas tree for the children.
And at that Christmas tree celebration he and his
relatives have attended personally and have taken
their delight in seeing the children so happy.
A little speech has been made: the presents
were taken from the tree and personally dis
tributcd, and hundreds OF bright faces left the
school house at the close Of the exercises. the
tiny hands clasping doll or other toy. and oranges
and candy bhlGing from under the little coats and
dresses And Tor long days thereafter the chill
drcn have held in recollection the night when
the Christmas festoons sparklcd and the candles
glimncrcd in the green tree.
And in Just such way have the employers OF
small factories both in this country and in Eng
land, been in sympathy with their cmploycs--thc
sympathy that comes from knowing each man
and each family and their peculiarites. and their
Joys and sorrows. In such men were not
known as No. 3i7 or GS4, but were known as Tom
and Jim. There is vast difference, however, in
the modern conditions which generally prevail
Now the heads OF the big concerns are in the
big cities. miles away from the workings. The
men never see them The administration is left
generally speaking, TO Supcrintcndents and fore.
men who, anxious to make good showing for
their work, seem less sympathetic and further
away from realization of the personal claim
of man upon man. And the breach OF sympu.
thy las wdcnrd. Man has become more and more
Of Il machine. Even in the big city Offices the
machinc'likc clock work has bccn the rule with
comparatively little association between the exc.
cutivc officers and the clerks Thus has capital
indirectly applied, seemed cold and iorbiddine
not because the men who furnish it are really so
but because OF the conditions which surround its
application. The world will probably have to
accommodate itself to the modern conditions, and
maybe ii will in time But some way OF occa.
sionally bridging the chasn and OF bringing en-
ployers and employed together would he wei.
coined as the best sign OF the times.