The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-10-10
THE COAL STRIKE.


the daily papers OF the country are
devoting considerable space to dis
cussions Of tho question pro and con.
1t is getting serious because the
usual supply Of coal is considerably
cut down OH account OF the striking
miners refusing to work or allow
other miners who are willing to work
t, do so. This strike is for higher
wages and has been going on for
considerable length Of time, so long,
In fact, that the demand for coal now
far exceeds the supply, consequently
the price has been goirg up with
Jump until it is getting to be
question Of whether or not suffering
to hundreds and thousands OF the
D ,orer people will result. Even at
the present price Of coal, in the large
cities it will be matter OF almos t
impossiblity for many people to buy
coal for heating purposes when cold
weather sets in, and at the same time
buy the food necessary for existar ce.
TIE price has advan ;ed to twenty
O Id dollars a ten and hard to get at
these figures.
The present demand Of the Industries
is sufficient to consume every ton OF
60 al now being mined. When the
cold weather begins it will mean suf-
fcring and death for many hundreds
unless the situation is relieved AID
work begun in mining coal, and That
at once. We do not know who 10
blame for this threatening calamity
of a coal famine, bat something
should be done and that quick. II
there is nothing else to be done the
government might siezs the mines in
the interest Of suffering humanity
and relieve the situation. It might
be claimed that this woul establish
dangerous precedent, but it does
not necessarily follow, as the opera
tives Of other industries, as well the
miners, know that the government
woull not step in and take possession
every time disagreement arose be-
tween employer and employees. 1t
is bitter fight and both sides seem
to be as determined to fight to
finish rs whea they first begun. II the
mina owners win it means a terrific
blow if not tho death knell Of organ
lied labor, while if the strikers win
it will be q great incentive for the
rapid building up of all labor organ
izations. We are not opposed to or
ganiz ID labor for their mutual pre-
lection in legitimate way but we
deplore the meth DDS resorted to in
many instances by the strikers. We
cannot condole mob violence, and
believe that when those troubles be-
tween labor and capital arise the
lborer would win and retain the
sympathy Of the r public In much
larger measure if they religiously
restrained themselves from commit
ting any act discreditable to any good
citizen. .,
This is free country, and man
or any number of men have perfect
right to work or let it alone, but they
do rot have any legal right, as we see
it, to restrain those from working
who are anxious to work, perchance
to enable them to feed and clothe
suffering family. We think they
should be sure of their strength be-
fore they walk out, and should be
excused for bringing every argument
and legitimate persuasion to bear on
those expecting to take their places,
to reconsider, but when this fails
they have legitimately reached the
end Of their rope and can 60 no fur
ther, to do so is to throw cold water
on the public sympathy that may
have been aroused in their behalf,
and to cause disgust in the mind of
the public. We think this is true
even when the interests Of none but
those directly concerned are at stake,
but when the affair assumes such
enormous proportions, as to seriously
affect the interests Of and perhaps
endanger the very lives Of hundreds
and thousands of citizens not direct
~ or indirectly concerned in the uues-
tions at issue, it is even more forci-
bly, impressed upon our minds. We
do not condone the action Of the
mine oners either. We believe il is