The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-07-19


ion as to the early settlement of the
miners strike was almost wholly dis
PEELED during the past few days, writes
William Mailly, the well-known labor
correspondent, the the New York. Work
er from Wilkesbarre. The publication
by the mine owners, in connection with
the investigation by Carroll p. Wright,
of the correspondence between thenlsel-
yes and the miners officials leading up
to the strike, brought final conviction
that this was to be really a fight to
finish.
Perhaps it is we'll that this be the
case. Sooner or later the fight would
have to come, for the miners were never
more determined to adjust the griev-
ances and remove the conditions that
have borne heavily upon them for many
years. The victory of 1900 gave them
foretaste of what they might have with
thorough organization, and they have
been preparing to enforce more de-
mands ever since that time.
On the other hands, the mine owners
have also been preparing. They may
have yielded to the miners under the
stress of political exigencies two years
ago, but, if they did, they have probab-
ly regretted it ever since; for the result
has been an almost perfect Organiza-
ton of the miners throughout the whole
region, and with that has come limit
ing Of the exactions practised upon
them and hindrance to the previously
unbridled exploitation of the mine; work
ers Of all kinds. The union is an In
cubus which retards robbery and letters
ha IN tho mi
ers' union and to arbitrate was all in
the line Of a supreme effort to be made
to shake off this incubus, destroy the
miners union and return to the con-
ditions existing for twenty years prior
to 1900
What will be the outcome of the
struggle is, of course, problemattcal. At
present the operators are making no eff
forts to run the mines, other than an
attempt at keeping out water and
preventing gas from accommodating.
They are having a hard time doing this
even, and they will suffer greatly fin
ancially; for in addition to the damage
done to the mines, must also be rec.
koned that inflicted upon the machin'
cry by the incompetent men brought
from the outside. For instance, I am
told that a valuable air-compressor, at
the Cunningham mine near here, has
been nearly ruined since the strike
began.
1t is doubtful if the operators expect
ed the miners to act so unanimously as
they have. The strike is in splendid
shape. Not only are the miners out
solidly, but the engineers, firemen, and
pumpnhen have quit to an extent bey-
ond all expectation. There never was
more wholesale tie-up.
The imported men are both incom-
petent and ignorant. They are working
night and day and many have collapsed
under the strain. 1t is safe to say that
while the Coal Trust may increase
profits by adding to the price of coal,
much of these profits will have to go
toward repairing mine property dam
aged through the strike.
How much of the solidarity displayed
by the men is due to conscious desire
to remove the conditions depressing
them and how much to a feeling of
loyalty to President John Mitchell IS
an interesting question. Mr.. Mitchell is
the hero of the anthracite region. The
confidence in him is unbounded and
extends among the workers of all
trades. They believe in his honesty and
have faith in his judgment. In my
association with the miners and other
working people, since arriving here I
| have not heard single word that could
be contrued as rejecting upon Mitch
ellis characters or Intentions, This
| accounts in great measure for the
present situation, but it also makes
Mitchells responsibility a heavy one.
That he realizes this am full sure. He
Is passing through a critical period in
his career. The close of the strike.
while meaning much to the strikers,
will also mean a great deal to their
president.
SO far as can be seen, Mitchell has
conducted himself admirably. He has
SHOWN caution and foresight. and he
has the faculty of knowing when to
Keep his mouth shut" developed to =.
remarkable degree. Perhaps this is one
OF the secrets of his success, for the
leader who talks little has less to taxa
pack. One remark of his, disclosed in
the correspondence already alluded tn
which quotes him as SUGGESTING thai
the mineowners advance the price ~
~
TO ADMIT an advance to the miners. has
peen mlsconstrued, purposely, of course.
what he did say was that he felt SIRE
tine public would be willing to nav ~
cents ton extra If they felt sure the
miners would get it.
but while confidence in or admiratto
Tor President Mitchell has had a. rrea.
oeal to do with the unanimous stoppa o.
o1 work, yet the feeling of revolt
against conditions existing before tbe
strike Is also strong and widespread
Ih1s feeling has been smolderin9 for
years. and had it's first outlet two
years ago. 1t has reached it's fu]]es,
expression in the present strike-that 10
so 1ar as the miners have learned ~
express revolt. ALL that was reoufred
was organization, directed by men in
whom the miners had confidence to
crystalline this feeling into concreta
Iorce and bring about a condition which
1lnds the working class of the anthra-
cite region arrayed in solid phalanx
against their enemies.
The class lines are drawn in this t,pht
with vengeance. The strikers admit
OF no equivocation or hesitation in =
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