The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-16

Father Coffey's parish is at Carbonate
| in the midst of the district now at
| fected by the strike of the anthracite
coal workers in Pennsylvania. A re-
| this morning at the home of Father
Hayden in West Eighth avenue.
THE strike, SO far as have noticed -
| he said, has been remarkably quiet. 1t
| is noticeable fact that there has not
been the disturbances attendant in most
cases of this kind. The relations of
the two factions. or sides, the employ
ers and employees, have been quiet but
strained. The level-headed men have
been in great measure successful in
their efforts to prevent the disturbances
occasioned by hoodlumism.
The strikers make certain claims
ard the employers make counter claims,
and SO far they have not come to an
amicable settlement of their differences
l am not familiar with the develop
ments since last Monday, at which
time l left to come to Kansas. How
ever, it is difficult at this time to fore
tell which side will be ultimately VIC
torious.
1.-The trouble seems to be over the
recognition of the union. Over a year
ago when the miners began the trouble
that has extended until the present
time, the strike was tided over by d
temporary agreen ent by which the
wage scale was raised 10 per cent and
the miners were granted concessions
relative to the use and cost of powder.
1T seems that the coal companies
want to break up the unions, which
nave grown to be quite strong, and the
miners are endeavoring to establish the
unions beyond shadow of a question
as to their rights.
THE coal operators contend that of
recent years since electricity oil and
gas have been coming into such univer-
sal use for power in running machine
ry it has begun to tell to a great extent
on the coal trade. and as consequence
1t is out of reason for the miners to ex-
pect increases in their wage scale.
Most of the large coal companies are
carrying companies such as the Penn
sylvania lines, the Erie line, the New
York and Hudson River. etc. and they
have laid by large quantities of coal
for the use Of the various roads. in an
ticipation of this strike.
THE strike works a hardship to a
certain extent upon the people living in
the immediate vicinity of the coal dis
tr1ct. The operators refuse to sell coal
during the progress of the strike. The
bltum1nouS coal operators are planning
to ship coal into this district for local
consumption, but by SO doing they run
the risk of bringing strike upon their
own mines. as the bituminous miners
are pledged to cooperation if it comes
to that point.
conditions are prosperous in the val
ley. The strikers have only recovered
from the effects of their long idleness
OF last year. The country is prosperous
now and the prospects are bright for
large crop this year and everyone is
to certain extent cheerful and opti-
miStic as to the outcome of the strike
There are SO many different conditions
In the various localities that the settle
ment of the strike to suit all concerned
will prove to be very complicated af-
fair.
THE mines are kept free from water
by huge pumps and air is kept fresh in
the mines by immense fans and ma
ch1nery for the distribution of the all
through the mines. The strikers threat
en- to call out the engineers and firemen
who are in charge of this apparatus
and thereby allow the mines to fill with
| water In case this is done, the mines
| will be rendered useless for at least six
| months"
Father Coffey is an interesting talker.
| He is also an interested visitor in Kan
| sas. He takes great delight in watch
| ing the progress of the state and the
| city of topeka It has been a great
many years since he lived here and
only few of his old acquaintance re-
| main in this vicinity. He was born in
the east and came here with his par
ents early in 1855 He received his ear
| lier education in Kansas and attended
| the College of the Assumption, Cath
ole diocesan school that existed here
in those days In 1872 he went to Mon
treal where he finished course OF foul
years in theological school. He was
| afterward ordained and placed II
| charge of the cathedral at Scranton
| Pa, where he remained for IL years HI
was then transferred to the parish a
| Carbonate near Scranton, where he ha.
been during the past Is years.
| Father Coffey makes biennial trips t.
the Sunfiower state to visit his parent.
who are now growing feeble with ad
vaneing age. Father Coffey will return
to Rock Creek soon where he will sta,
another week or more with his parent:
before returning to his parish in Penn
sylvania-