The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-10
Average Circulation
of
THE JOURNAL
for month of August
555,4457
Operators in Contempt.


For long time public opinion in re-
gard to the strike in the Pennsylvania an
thracite coal fields was in suspense.
Within two weeks it has been precipi-
tated on the side of the men.
So foolish have been the words and acts
Of the operators that the most conserSe-
tive newspapers in the country. with one
or two notable exceptions, have declared
against them with a heat and violence
that would have been regarded with alarm
a short time since. Such steady papers as
the New York Tribune, supposed to have
a wel-developed penchant for the cap
italistic view of labor controversies, nave
expressed their opinion of the arrogance
and blindness of the operators in most
strenuous language.
Another striking example of the turn
Ing Of public opinion against the operators
is to be found in the attitude Of Gunton's
Magazine. This optimistic magazine,
which is steadily opposed to any legisla-
ton which tends to disturb indtvidualism
and the free play of competition, now asks
whether the, coal strike is not a. conspiracy
on the part Of the operators to enrich
themselves by forcing an artificial in
crease in the price Of coal. 1t quotes
the charges repeatedly made by the con-
servative Boston Advertiser that the oper-
ators deliberately forced the strike and
have secretly encouraged the strikers to
hold out to the very limit of their endur-
ance for the purpose Of raising the price
of coal The Advertiser says that when
President Mitchell of the Mine Workers
Union started the strike it was with the
almost absolute certainty that If he would
take the responsibility for it and keep it
up till Labor Day the men would receive
the concessions demanded. '' ..-.~ =
The fact that Labor Day Is past and
that the strike still continues proves
nothing The longer the strike lasts the
better for the profits of the operators
when mining Is resumed.
While Gunton's is reluctant to conclude
that the operators have committed such
a crime against society and themselves, 1t
coafesses that the proofs that they have
are startling. We condense some Of it's
- reasons:
In the first place there was absolutely
no reason for a strike. $3.50,
.: At the outset the laborers made no de-
mand. They simply asked for confer
cree to arrange the schedule Of wages and
other conditions for period following the
expira tom of: the previous agreement.
which was on April t."
Instead Of accepting this reasonable
proposal the: operators. decided upon and
took backward step.
I They announced that they would make
no collective bargain with their men, with
their organization, that is, and, withou
consulting them, announced that wage:
would remain as they had been until Apri
/, 1902, and would thereafter be subject tt
change on sixty days notice.
= That was an ultimatum Of the kind tina
invites war. not peace.
After recognizing the union for tw
years, the operators suddenly propose t.
have nothing more to do with it.
A conference being denied to them
there was nothing for the men to do bu
to formulate their demands.
These were not unreasonable.
Even then, If there had been the slight
est disposition or the part Of the corpora
lions to adjust matters, the strike coul
have been avoided.
Since the strike began and the publ
annoyance and suffering have been aggra
waited, the" operators have grown more in
solent than at first:
There must be motive for all this.
1T is beginning to be manifest that in
stead Of losing, the corporations are max
ing money by this infliction on the publ.
Gunton's concludes that the coal minin
corporations are by their arrogant foil
laying 4he foundations for their own de
struction. ,. -. ... .-.~ -s.:.,s-.-.-.. ~. -.
And so they are. The corporations ow
the mines and mine the COAL but the pub
lie needs and consumes it. 1t is impote1
nonsense to contend that millions of pec
pie have NO rights that are superior
those Of few corporations which oH
their very existence and prosperity I
those people. - ..@ -e.- sr-4
Arrogant and greedy capitalism cou
have no better object lesson at this rnt
ment than enforced arbitration of the di,
pute, followed. if necessary, by expropris
tion Of the mines.