The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-12

AN speak lightly of gem
eral strike in the mines
has been through such a
strike? Do those who would coun-
tenance so great misfortune realize
fully the fearful consequences?
In the region commercially tributary
to Scranton, If we estimate that $4,000
men engaged in and about the mines
are now earning, on the average, 81 n
day apiece, when they work. it would
need only ten days of enforced idle
ness to take out of labors pocket ST.
100000: in one hundred days the loss
would be so enormous as 10 stagn1te
for years to come the general business
Of the whole community. Can labor
afford to pay SO great i price, Where
Is the gain that could possibly COM
rensate? Wherc has a mine strike
ever repaid the strikers for the time
and wages lost! But more than
the coal operators, more than the
miners, are concerned in the prono-
Sili'n VI StiIhe, every man, woman
and child in the I.ackawanna valley
without exception is concerned, because
a strike means loss to every one: means
fcverish days and sleepless nights;
means passions aroused In which dis
order is born: means the turning away,
perhaps for time, perhaps for all
time, of the prosperity, so long and so
eagerly awaited. which has but lately
approached within view. Before it is
even considered seriously the conse-
quences should be carefully and pray
erfully weighed.
Who says there is justification for
the bringing down upon the people OF
this valley Of such an awful calamity?
If a cyclone were to sweep through,
carrying death or destruction to inno-
cent thousands, it's appalling visita-
ton might be accounted for and as
suaged without putting blame upon
any individual. If u connaSration
originating in accident should lay in
ashes a thousand homes, the homes
untouched would instantly be thrown
open to shelter the shelterless and
humane hands would generously put
forth the means of n prompt recon-
struction. Cyclone and fire are nevit-
able hazards. But strike is a mis-
fortune which does not befall by
chance. 1t has its designers, its pro-
moters, its abettors. 1t is a climax
cunnngly worked up to: and like the
bomb hurled into the crowd it spreads
its havoc alike among the just and
the unjust, being most piti'rss in its
| cruelty to the weak.
Is it because the mines today are
working better time and the miners
| earning better pay than for a long time
past that we are hearing threats of a
| strike? No honest miner in this val
| ley has been or will be refused
| a hearing when seeking one. as man
| to man, or by committee. frCm his
| employer. The door of every reput-
| abic iiii' HldiitSci IL tl'tI ~ every
employe who has a suggestion to make
or n grievance to present. 1t
| does not take counsel from afar
Ito inform intelligent miners how
they shall go about it to earn for
their families the ampler wages aris-
ing from better breaker time. These
| outsiders cannot, with Ill their arSu-
ment, add to the number of days that
the breaker will work in the month,
they can only subtract from it, if their
Interference shall force shut down
or a strike. 1t is, therefore. for the
| intelligent miner 10 say who, her a
strike shal! or shall not occur. It is
his interest and his fomily's interest
| which is chiefly at stake. 1t is his
| Place and duty, and not the place and
| duty of any professional aSitator or
mercurial enthusiast. to cast the de-
| Cidirg vote.
Let the men of sense. the men II
cool Judgment, the men who know
| from experience what strikes mean,
| come to the front among the wage
earners Of this valley and extinguish
the spark of danger before it can be
famed into Il consuming flame.
Same nf f.i, I