The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16
ARBITRATORS GAVE
MINERS PENSIONS
Even Forced Coal Operators to
Grant More Than the Strik-
ers Demanded.
SITUATION is IMPROVED.
Bad Advisers Held Responsible
in Large Degree for the Woes
of the $4,000 Workers
in French Mines.
BY ]. CoRNELY.


HhERAIp AND TIE ST. Louis REPUBLIC.
Paris. Nov. El-(Ccpyright. 1sR)-This
week has been taken up with the various
phases OF the miners strike and with the
less serious. less tragic and even slightly
laughable difficulties that spring UP under
the steps Of the Commissioners of the
Chamber detailed to the execution Of the
Associations Law.
The 5000 miners, occupied IN the mining
Of coal in the Department of the Nord and
Pas de Calais. went on q strike because
the coal companies had considered it neces-
sary to abolish a premium or increase OF 80
per cent on wages agreed to formerly.
After much parley and many difficulties
arbitration was tried. and the delegates OF
the miners took advantage OF the o%pporrun-
Hy afforded by their appearance before the
arbitrator to detail the complete pro-
gramme OF the claims of labor.
ARBITRAToRS' DECISION.
The erbitrators decided that the COM
panies should make some concessions to the
men, and those concessions were embodied
in the scheme for pensions. In fact. the
srbitrators. in this matter OF pensions.
forced the companies 20 grant more than
the miners had demanded. This arrange
ment was advantageous in that 1t favored
the most deserving workmen-that is, those
most worthy OF interest.
This arbitration has not yet brought the
strike to an end. but 1t had greatly weak
ened II, because 1t was coinc'dent with rig
orous measures taken by the Government
to protect the liberty of labor.
Matters have improved consequently. Al
though the picketing by the miners has not
ceased. although windows are still smashed
and explosions Of dynamite cartridges and
attacks upon and insults to the gendarmes
still continue, nevertheless the number Of
men who have returned to work has In
creased somewhat everywhere. and 1t is pos
sible TO hope the day is coming when bad
advisers and agitators win no longer have
the ear of these simple people. who live in
darkness in more senses than one. and who
are still far removed from the superb atti-
tude and tranquil assurance of the English
miner, who. on going down into the mine to-
work OF a morning. has only to consult the
list of prices at which coal sold on the
market the previous day to be able to reck-
On what his days earnings viii amount to.
for his wages rise and fall in a fixed scale,
in accordance with the price of the coal he
mines.
RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
The difficulties which the Commissioners
of the Chamber of Deputies are encounter
ing are much further from a solution than
those in the labor world.
In fact. the question at Issue Is to ascer-
tani In advance what viii be the lot Of the
religious orders in case of a conflict be-
tween the two hambe over tho authGrtZa-
ton for which they will reply, and little by |
little the whole political constitution CT the
country is being brought upon the carpet
in connection with this badly devised law.
There is proof sufficient that the bill
should have been either rejected or accept
ed In the form in which Waldeck-Rousseau
proposed it-that is, with the Government
possessing the right to authorize or dis |
solve any particular congregation. Is
q function OF the executive which Parlia-
ment was wrong in usurping. It Is expiating
its mistake by having to wrestle unsuccess-
fully with problems which enervate and dis |
credit It.
Heaven grant that to these constitutional
troubles there be not added others OF a |
financial order. for q balance has to be
found In a budget hat shows a considerable
deficit, thanks to fraudulent practices which
In our country enjoy an immunity border
Ing on esteem-a very satisfactory symptom
IN 30 far a. our public morality is con-
earned. |