The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-04
sPECULATIONs REGARDING THE
STRIKE.

The predictions that are being made re-
garding an early settlement of the anthra-
cite coal strike may have no other founda-
ton than a shrewd conjecture that strike
which has continued so long and at such
great cost to both sides must necessarily be
near an end. 1t does not seem probable
that the persons making these predictions
are on 1.-The inside" sufficiently to know the
plans of both sides to the controversy. One
of the latest of these predictions represented
that the two Pennsylvania senator's had
frightened the operators into an agreement
to make concessions by representing to
them that If the strike Is not ended very
soon II will result in the election Of Dem
ocratic Legislature in Pennsylvania that
than they are now asking for. Yesterdays
Developments show that this prediction had
no basis-a conference between the senators
and President Baer ending In failure. The
interests of both capital and labor have suf-
fered already from being dragged into poll
tics. and it would be public misfortune to
have the present strike settled on a political
basis. 1t is said the railroad men at Har-
risburg have already Endorsed the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor, and this is
taken as an indication of the trend of the
labor vote. If the miners and workingmen
of Pennsylvania imagine they would gain
anything by the election of a Democratic
Legislature they would be very much dis
appointed. One of the demands of the
strikers is an increase of wages. No Legis-
lature could guarantee that One of the
measures promised by Democratic Legis-
lature is a compulsory arbitration law.
There is no evidence that the miners or that
workingmen generally desire such law. 1t
is doubtful If such law could be made OPP
erative without a requirement that labor
organizations shall be Incorporated, and 1t
is not believed labor leaders would approve
Mitchell of the miners union, was asked If
he favored compulsory arbitration, he an
swered significantly: THE attitude of or
ganized labor has always been against
compulsory arbitration" Compulsory arbi.
tration works both ways. and the assump-
eAoh tiidt ~ Wouio NC Va any SpcCidi ocucIi
to organized labor or that labor leaders de-
sire it is purely gratuitous. In the present
case the miners made a fair offer of/arbi.
| tration at the beginning of the struggle ano
renewed it later, but 1T was rejected by the
| operators. No doubt the miners would still
be willing to submit the whole matter to ar.
bitration. and if sufficient pressure can be
| brought to bear on the operators to induce
them to accede to the proposition the strug
| gle may yet be ended in that way. If the
| politicians can persuade or brighten the op
orators into that position they will have
done good work. There is a movement or
foot in Pennsylvania to induce the Gov
ernor to call special session of the Legis
lature to deal with the situation, and it 1:
said he is simply waiting for the popular
demand to become strong enough to justify
him in doing so. II Is represented that tn,
maintenance of troops in the anthracit,
district during the fall and winter would
| cost the State much more than an extra
session of the Legislature, not to speak o.
the enormous premiums paid by the publ,
for coal. Meanwhile the collieries seem I,
be resuming work gradually. one after an
other, and the strike may end sooner thar
| the public anticipates.