The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-06-19
BOTH SIDES ARE FIRM
NEW ELEMENT ADDED TO AN.
THRACITE COAL WAR.
strike of the Bituniinous Miners in
the Nirginias Adds New Com pIica-
tions-Situation as 1t Now Stands
Still Working for Peace.

This is the sixth week of the great
coal strike in the anthracite districts OF
pennsylvania, and Il solution of the diff
:ulty. which is daily affecting Il larger
lumber of people. apparently is as far Oh
| Is ever. Already the strike has cost
the mine owners, miners. business men
of the anthracite region and the public
generally the vast sum of sd ,000.0UO
The operators still remain unmoved and
lnbending. The strikers remain hopeful
md determined. The public suffers, with
| he prospects growing greater each day
hat their sufferings will become more in
tense and more disastrous.
The magnates have over half a billion
dollars invested in their mines. and yet
many of these mines are being flooded
,nd ruined because, while willing to pay
he wages of 1000 coal and iron police,
% protect the non-union men they are
assembling in the coal regions, the op-
arators will not grant the increase asked
BY the miners. Hence the negotiations
brought about by the National Civic Fed
ration We're broken off and the country
$ forced TO witness struggle. the end
of which may mean ruin TO many indus
,ries and to millions of people.
Ihe situation now may be briefly sum
med up: Every mine of any consequence
n the coal regions is tied up. Many of
hem are being allowed to fill with water
md men cannot be obtained to pump
hem. At others clerks, bosses and non
lnlon men are trying TO run the pumps
and over these force of 1000 iron and
.nnl nniiea
;ylvania law makes easy the formation
II this private army. BY it mine owners
90 to the big cities, hire buns, ex-con-
gicts. discharged policemen. drunken
sailors, the riffraff of the streets and the
lodging houses, and bring them To their
mines. The operators put badges on
Them, place weapons in their hands, AMI
thus the coal and iron police" are ere
sted.
What the Fight Means.
The fight now seems to be waiting
Dne. victory to belong to the side which
IAN hold out the longest. On the face
If it. it would seem as though under
such circumstances the strikers would
ose. But appearances sometimes de-
.eive. The strikers are united, firm and
determined. They can live on little. They
,ave the sympathy of the business inter
ssts throughout the anthracite region.
They will have the material aid, when
asked for. il organized labor everywhere.
Fully $4,000 of them have left the coal
ieids since the strike began and have
ound work in other occupations. thus en-
ibling the union leaders to better care
for those who remain
On the other hand the cessation of work
means a loss to the coal carrying and
,Oal mining roads of S10.OUOO00 4
month. This is considerable item even
an age like this, when men talk in
Millions. Perhaps the roads after an
other month may come to consider this.
The miners seem determined to remain
,ut until they win. For the union it is
aot now mere fight for per cent: it
Il fight for the future and a fight for
heir. existence. Stubborn as are the
operators. the miners are equally reso-
ute. With their own resources they feel
confident that they can remain out four
months.
Meantime Il new element has entered
he situatiOn-the soft coal strike in .he
.wO Nirginias, where nearly 10000 men
are idle because of the refusal of the
oituminous operators to grant an increase
n wages. If this strike succeeds; ;f
President Mitchell and the other leaders
n the United Mine Workers Union sue
,eed in cutting off the supply of soft coal
20 the eastern markets, thereby forcing
The shutting down of mills and factories
and railroads, they feel confident chat
enough influence will be brought TO bear
Ipon the operators to compel them TO
make such concessions as will end both
strikes. The two Virginias mre 1000
300 tons of coal monthly, and this, with
The output of the soft coal regions of this
State. supplies most of the eastern trade.
By cutting this off, the industries of the
East would be paralyzed. But such
pressure would be brought to bear upon
the operators that settlement could not
'ong be deferred.
Peace Not Yet Abandoned.
All hopes for a settlement OF the trou-
bic have not. however, been abandoned.
Under instructions from President Roose-
welt an investigation into the whole mat
.er is being conducted by Carroll d.
Wright, United States Commissioner OF
Labor. 1t should. however, be stated
that Mr.. Wright is not clothed with the
jurisdiction of an arbitrator, nor can Mr..
Roosevelt take any official action. The
President, however. can informally seek
relief from the present situation and lie
is now employing every resource in his
power.
Meantime President Mitchell holds in
abeyance the call for a national conven-
ton OF all coal miners. in which the ques-
tion of n national strike is to come w.
This is the measure of last resort.