The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-08-30
Unbiased Statement of the Great Coal Strike


turning to the census I find that even
in 1890 the hard-coal miners were receiv-
ing twenty per cent less than the soft
coal miners. Since that time the soft
coal miners have made much the great
er gains. The hard-coal miners talked
with were all conscious Of the higher
wages paid to their fellow-craftsmen Of
the West, and I asked some of them
why they did not go West to get tbs
higher wages. Their reply was that
the method Of mining in the West was
so different that they would be green
horns" when they got there. OF this
account the skilled miners would not 20
West, and the laborers would not 70
because in the Western mines no labor
ers were employed by miners, and they
could not get positions as "partners.'
When the various Impressions which
1 had received had simmered down. the
Impression that remained was that, ex-
cept in a. few localities and among 4,
rev small classes of workmen, the pres
ent strike is chiefly strike for an ad-
vance in wages. The workers never ex-
pected a twenty per cent advance. II 4
five per cent advance had been offered
them, 1t would gladly have been ac-
cepted; but now that the strike is on.
1t may be continued indefinitely unless
some substantial concession is granted.
The strike fever has been gaining. Most
OF the miners with whom talked wish
President Mitchell to call out the care
takers and allow the mines to be food
ed President Mitchell. however. III
strongly opposed to this step. Most Of
the miners with whom I talked also
wish all the soft-coal 1ninerss calfkd oHk
In sympathetic strike. When asker
them whether this would not be n
violation Of the soft-coal miners agree.
ment with the operators. they said that
it would not be, since this agreement
specified that If, during strike In. tho
hard-coal dictrict, soft coal should be
shipped into it, the soft-coal miners
would have right to go out in SYM
pathy. Before leaving the coal fields, Z
called again upon Mr.. Mitchell and ask
ed him <whether this was the case. He
stated that it was not, thogh the Min
ers' Convention. prior to the making Of
the years contract with the soft-coaI
operators, had authorized the executive
committee to call out the miners In
either district if the employers shipped
coal into the other during a strike. HE
western operators had had public
notice Of this action Of the convention.
and had made no protests concerning
1t, when the years contract was made.
but, none the less, Mr.. Mitchell did not
believe that public sentiment would
justify the sof-coal operatives in joining
In a strike 50 long as the soft-ooal
operators lived up to their side of tho
written contract. The only fear the
public need have upon this score is that
the strike fever may spread and gather
such intensity that Mr.. Mitchen's wish
es may count for nothing, and a sympa.
thetic strike be ordered that will para.
lyze Industry the country over.
If the miners and mine operators were
alone concerned by the present struexle;
each side might possibly be trusted t0
secure its own interest the or
deal Of battle rarely secures justice for
the weaker party. But neither sidesto
the present struggle can be trusted to
secure the interests of the outside pub
lie. The participants, If the strfEa
lasts for three months, may not have
their years income seriously lessened
for the years output Of anthracite coal
can be mined by less than eight months:
steady work. For the present, there
fore, the miners are merely postponinR
work which they can do later, and the
companies are merely postponing sales
which they can make later. In.
sfngularly small degree do the parttci-
pants In the struggle suffer now. But
the public has already begun to suffer.
and It's sufferings are likely to increase.
The anthracite roads hold the key. to
the situation. The miners are ready. to
accept arbitration: The responsibility.
therefore. If arbitration is not granted.
rests with anthracite roads. The faot
emphasized by President straus, that
these roads are chartered by the pubic
and have public privileges, makes their
responsibility the greater. The question
that comes home is, Shall the chartered
servants Of the public be permitted -
ignore their public obligations? >