The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-21
The Issue One OF
Methods Us. Result


managing the mines ana uhuer pressure
OF the consolidation Of capital, which con
trollcd all the railroads and so large share OF
the mines as render the resistance of individual
operators impotcnt, the sympathy Of the public
was strongly with the demand OF the miners.
Thanks to the interruption OF production for a
full month, to an unexpected increase in the de-
mand for iron and to a rise in the price OF coal,
both abroad and at home, which carried its quo
tation to a figure unknown for nearly twenty
years. the increased wages have been paid not
only without diminishing the profits OF the
capital engaged in the mines, but with an in
crease of these profits, OF the total number OF
persons employed in mining and of the total wage
fund distributed in the mining region.
The wisdom of the advance has, therefore, been
fully justified. When il was continued by gen
cral consent Of the operators for another year
the fact was accepted by the public as showing
not only that the previous advance was fair,
but that the conduct and direction of the capital
engaged in coal mining had been placed upon
level which commanded public confidence. The
miners themselves showed their appreciation Of
this by asking no additional increase in wages.
In fact, as far as wages are concerned, the
thracite coal miners now have more than they
ever expected to get, and their present level OF
wages has been obtained at less cost, both to
capital and labor, than any previous advance in
the history Of the mines.
The substance OF a labor struggle has been sue.
cessfully won. The actual working miner has
what he wants The operators, while they were
most reluctant to make advance last fall and
while the older and more experienced Of them
have bccl steadily predicting through the winter
| that the concessions made then and repeated this
spring would prove Intellectual in preventing labor
| disturbance, also satisfied. They are paying
| more wages than ever before, but they are also
| making much money. The capitalists, whose
community of interest" in railroads and mines
| has enabled them to secure both this advance
and the continuous operation OF their properties
| with a tonnage never before equaled, and reach.
| ing nearly tve.sXths OF the possible product Of
| the plant of the anthracite region, are also per-
| iccty satisfied. The only persons in the difficult
| problem presented by anthracite mining not Who'll
| " satisfied are the labor leaders. They have not
| received recognition for their organization.
| Their position, as the only men through whom
| a collective bargain can be made, has not been
| accepted. The bargain for an advance has been
made and closed. 1t has been settled, not in
| conference" but in that wider market place,
| which in the newspaper and through public dis
cusSion has settled that the 10 per cent. increase
| was fair, that it was feasible, that it must be
made, that it ought to be continued and that it
was Just end Of the controversy
| the anthracite mine region is whether in this
matter methods are of more importance than re-
| suits, whether the shadow is worth a fight when
| the substance has been secured without one,
| whether the recognition" Of a labor organza-
tion is worth the solid cash Of the best wages
for twenty years in the hands Of every miner
who can use pick in the anthracite mining re-
| gion. There Is probably no question that a strike
can be preCipitated on this issue Of recognition.
The mingled forces Of capitalists and operators
who represent, control and direct the capital en-
gagged in the mining and transportation Of an
thraCte We're never unanimous in yielding to the
men last tall. What really Happened on both
sides was that vigorous minority Of the work.
ingmen carried an overwhelming majority of con.
| tented miners into a strike, and that an equally
| vigorous but powerful and overmIstering, minor.
ity Of capitalists forced the acquesccncc of opera.
| tors. There is 4 very large number Of operators
| who for various reasons feel that strike is in,
evtablc and would prefer to have it as soon as
possible. II is difficult, however TO believe that
labor leaders who showed the wisdom which Pres
idcnt Mitchell and his associates did of not in
sistng upon "reCogniton" last fall when tho
| advance in wages was secured, will risk all that
has been gained and invite the breakup Of the
most complete organization known in the an
| thracitc region for shadowy "TeCognition"
The anthracite region never stood alone Il
has always been under the competition Of btm
inous Goals But now, after the great consolida
tious have taken place. this competition, dircc
and indirect, in the iron and steel product i
} better organized than ever. The Community o
interest,"" which forced compromise last fall
is also in position to Use its control OF bitmm
! inous interest in order 10 carry without the diff
Guilty telt in the past, a cessation OF product il
the anthracite region. The demand for 'rccog
milton" Is right which any labor organization
; has, but it is right less important than goo
wages, II is natural that this demand for "rocog
: | nilon' should he carried 10 a point which vii
! convince all concerned that this factor Is one T.
be reckoned with, Anything farther is certain T.
forfeit sympathy for the anthracite miners an
to bring TO a ptiabc end the advance in IN
; conditions Of anthracite mining during the pas
! | year