The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-13
Advi(e 10 Miners
by a Morkingman


r. HERE ARE two duties that dcvolvc the
miners who are members of the Mine
Workers union. They devolve them
individuals and they apply collectively.
As individuals they will meet at llazlcton We'd
| nc,,ay. and. representing their hundreds, they
will stand Tor hundred and fifty thousand
men.
4 Free Press reporter interviewed President
Mitchell yesterday morning at his headquarters
in the ST. Charles hotel. and this was for the pr-
pose Of having some Of the cubwcls brushed from
the situation ana making the points at issue
stand out boldly, that there could be 10
| doubt To their identity.
"'Therc only two questions at issue said
President Mitchell. 'Une is that contract min
crs shall receive an increase of wages amounting
10 twenty per cent, and that men who are doing
day work shall receive corresponding increase
by having their working hours reduced from ten
to eight hours. OF course, also want
employers 10 enter into term agreements
"lIow about recognition Of the union?' asked
the reporter
Waived long since" was President Mitclell's
sharp reply.
'Ilow about the enforcement of the working
card ut mincsi" asked the reporter.
"Tt never entered into the discussion
the way Mr. Mitchell dismissed the subject.
Here, then, is the status of the case. relieved
of all unnecessary verbase. Miners demand
increase in wages, and those that employ them
refuse Ia grant This request.
| This Leaves this conditions: Those who are mis-
guided crying for strike. Those who want TO
see lmionSm crushed out in this valley are cry
ing for strike. and il the miners want their next
condition to be worse than their present, they
will order strike for next "Wednesday. II they
wise, they will postpone the strike Indefinite
ly. and make the first strike they engage in
strike through the ballot box.
The merchants of the city Of Scranton have
reached that pass where strike talk ceases 10
worry them. During the past two years it has
been strike strike. strike, and ii il wasn't in
onr line OF activity, it was in another They
form an influential portion Of the body polite,
and there can he no doubt OF their feelings
They have listened 10 threats Of string 50 long
that they are eager TO the question ,hrc>hcd
ont finally and decisNcly
The Free Press wants TO u strike. too. Ii
would ike TO men OF intelligence strike one
good, decisive blow next fall, when men who
to choose United States senator's are to he
chosen, and when men are to be elected I" sit
in the lower branch OF the nations lawmaking
body in the rational capital.
Yes, mine workers Strike if you want to see
Your children hunger, and if any of Your leaders
arc SO blind us 10 say that you will be able to
tie mp the shipping across thc Atlantic for want
| OF coal to generate steam that will furnish the
power to move the vessels, dcihrone such leaders.
They are false prophets. Ak them what j.
Pierpont Morgan was buying mp steamboat lines
fo, This never occurred 10 them
What are the facts: They Just the
Free Press has frequently stated them. The men
who represent corporate interests are eager for
the scrap. They have been in training Tor it ior
some time j. Pelpont Morgan has been ap-
pcaled 10, hut this gentleman is too busy CON
solhlating his fleet 10 have them in battle array
that he hasn't rimc to listen to the walls OF his
friend. the senator from Ohio, Mr. Morgan
tla
rnity OF .luIring matters with Marcus, and he
will not interfere with the plans of his own
agent, Mr.. Bacr, OF Reading. And Mr.. Baer, of
Reading, wants the miners 10 strike.
The position tlai The Free Press lakes in this
matter may he criticised by those whom it is in-
tended TO benefit, bur this will not prevent nj
terauce nor deter advice. The duty OF mine
workers who have not elected delegates yet, is To
that only men ot superior intelligence are
sent 10 la2leOn. and II would be better ii all
were Instructed Ia vote against tho strike.
Any one who has been in losing strike will
agree with the collse that Is here Suggested.
There is no election in progress now and no Viii
liam j. Bryan, whose honesty made him feared.
is candidate for the presidency. Mark A.
Hanna, Ralph Easley and Nathan Strauss may
tell you that they are eager to act rs cOncilia'
tors, hut when only Jne side is open 10 concilia'
ton and the other side only offers terms that will
he accepted by compulsion, there il not much
chance Tor the good oflces oi the men VINO COM
prise the Civic Federation 1t was organized
with lofty purpose, but the first big task that
is submitted proves 10 he more than 1t could
masticac,
The only question that conironts the mine
workers is one oi pride. They have delivered their
ultimatun, and IL has been rejected, The nat.
ural impulse is 10 get hack, 10 retalilte. Chill
dren act impulses. Men weigh the conditions,
They are guided by judgment founded
balancing of all the conditions after mature de.
libera,iOnS, and in This case the thing for lhe
mine workers TO do is to Danish pride and act
ON the facts as they are presented, prudent,
reasonable men should. Ii they do This, there
will be No strike. H. however, they are tired of
their organization; II they are prepared To agree
with capltal II they willing that their or
g4nzation has ou,llyed It's usefulness; II Yey
are willing 10 permit return to chaotic cohdi.
tions that prevailed prior to their organization,
they will order a strife