The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-18
The strike Situation.

on the whole. the last JWentE-TOuT
hours have witnessed little change Of
importance in the strike situation
What few developments are to be
noted do not impress the unprejudiced
observer as favorable 10 the strikers
The Steel Trust plant at WellsyiIle,
Ohio which has attracted exceptional
attention on account Of the known IN
tention of its management to attempt
operation with non-union labor. was
running yesterday with a small force
Other. establishments IN Pittsburs are
preparing 10 resume production,
though. whether or not the skilled Ia
Dor necessary can be found outside Of
the labor organizations is a question
yet 10 be settled. Representatives Of
the Morgan combination appear 20
think that a sufficient number Of train
ed hands can be mustered TO replace
the strikers in most of the plants at
fecJea, and there are indications that
the trust viii shortly proceed 10 defy
its ex-empIoyes and try 10 start work
in spite of them That such course
will result in violence there IS no rea-
son TO doubt It Is equally probable
in advance 10 meet force with force,
and, should physical conflict come. the
chances are that il viii be soon over
The one point in favor OF the strikers,
as already suggested, is the difficulty
OF securing skilled nOn-uniOn Workmen.
If that can be overcome, it IS fair
presumption that with its enormous re-
sources and influence the trust VIII be
able TO provide for their protection.
The strike Of the coal mine fremen
has now the formal support Of the sta
tionary engineers employed in the
plants which have been tied UP. That
apparently Is a point scored by the
men; but there are ether considera-
tions which make II appear that the
movement IS rot as strong as the pub
lie has been led TO believe it would be
The United Mine Workers Association,
with which organization the fremen Of
Of the HazletOn district and some
other localities are affiliated, IS not en-
thusiastic on the subject Of the strike
Many Of its leading members are re
ported as saying that in the contest
with the Coal Trust last year the fire
men were inactive, but shared in the
advance Of ten per cent in wages
which came with the settlement Now.
they argue. il is unfair for twelve hun
dred furnace feeders 10 throw a hun
dred- and twenty thousand brother
workingmen out Of employment, with
out notice 10 the latter, and IN contra
vention Of the solemn agreement en-
tered into with the coal ma gnates in
1900. This bound the anthracite coal
miners not to strike for year. and, as
the hTemen gladly accepted the bene-
fits Of the arrangement, it IS question
able conduct on their part TO force the
miners into a practical violation Of its
terms
There is not a little force in this az
gument At the time Of the strike in
question IT was urged on behalf of the
trust that it could not safely make
costly concessions to labor because
while employers could be legally com
PEELED TO fulfill their undertakings, the
workingmen would always be able 10
ignore theirs with impunity. President
Mitchell. OF the United Mine Workers.
If We remember rightly, replied to this
contention that his organization would
be found willing and able 20 abide by
its agreements to the letter, and that
whatever It might promise, its mem
bership would religiously live up 10.
If. Notwithstanding such assurances,
The Hanna-AIitcheu agreement Of 1893
should now be broken by the miners.
the impression would gain ground thai
labor orga nizations are as yet incap-
able Of guaranteeing the good faith Of
their adherents, and it goes without
saying that the cause OF organized la
Dor would not be adyarc ed in public
opinion thereby.
The President IS represented to be
greatly worried over the situation. and
has consulted Attorney General Knox
as to the possibilities Of a settlement
Mr. Mckinley. like other Republican
politicians. is ayerse TO the idea Of a
labor war at this 3r any other time
during the life OF the present Admin
istration. He does not forget the po-