Evening star., 1902-08-15
GREAT COAL STRIKE
A Most Interesting Labor
Struggle.
TO CRUSH THE UNION
THE REAL OBJECT OF THE
OPERATORS.
Question of Endurance With the Men
Eighty Per Cent Willing
to Return to Work.

to take personal interest in the
great coal strike from this time until it is
settled. Politics and the election of the
House of Representatives will wane into
insignificance alongside of the burning
question of the price of coal
The strike has been on for three months
and there is no sign of settlement. The
owners of the coal mines are determined
to crush the Mine Workers Union. The
miners desire to preserve their union.
Later, with the prospect of work and a
slight increase of wages, they may decide
to let the union go to pieces.
The miners themselves do not think the
preservation of the union is absolutely es-
sential to their welfare. The officers of
the Mine Workers Union are moving
heaven and earth to preserve the integrity
of the organization.
In the anthracite region practically all
of the mines are now controlled and owned
by railroad corporations. The Delaware,
LackaWanna and Western. the Delaware
and Hudson, the Erie. the New Jersey
Central, the Lehigh Valley and the Read
ing railway have bought, within the past
few years, from the individual operators,
the bulk of the coal properties.
Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan of New York is
the dominant figure in the combination of
mine owners. President Baer of the Read
Ing railway Is the executive head Of the
clared the railroads intrusted to Mr. Baer
the management of their interests. Presi-
dent Baer took hold with the understand
ing that he was to have absolutely full
control. Mr. Morgan went to Europe. The
other railroad presidents devoted them
selves to the duties of their respective po-
sitions, and President Baer today is the
man who is actively engaged in handling
the strike situation.
To Crush the Union.
I am told in Scranton. by competent au-
thority, that President Baer's one intention
is to crush the union. He does not care
for the 3 per cent increase in wages de-
manded by the men. He is willing to grant
it if it could be granted to the workmen
without recognition of their union.
President Baer's position is this: He holds
the view that If the union is recognized the
granting of the demands of the men at this
time would be only the beginning of fur
ther demands. Next year they would come
with something else. The following year
they would insist upon further concessions.
He sees limit to the demands of the
union and thinks that the operators of the
coal mines would eventually be pushed to
the wall by the workmen The only saliva
ton for the operators, from his point of
view, is to kill the union.
In the strike of 1890 President Baer want
ed to fight the proposition to finish. Sen
ator Hanna, chairman of the republican ma
ional committee, went to Mr.. Morgan and
told him that the presidential election was
likely to he mperiled by the Pennsylvania
coal strike. He reminded Mr.. Morgan that
Mr.. Morgan and his friends had interests
outside of the coal mines of far greater
financial magnitude, which would be hurt If
a republican President should not be elect
ed. Mr.. Morgan admitted the point grant
ed the demands OF the union and the strike
came to an end.
There is nothing at stake, politically now,
except possibly the governorship and a
handful of representatives in Congress. Mr.
Morgan and his friends care nothing for
those interests. Senator Quay and the
Pennsylvania politicians have appealed to
the railway presidents in vain. The latter
have turned a deaf ear to all representa-
tions upon that score. They say that the
financial interests Of their companies are at
stake and that the welfare of their stock
holders is more to them than any local po-
litical consideration.
Here comes in the question of ethics. The
railway presidents represent combinations
of capital. They insist that there shall be
no combination of labor. You may figure it
out to suit yourself. To the railway presi-
dents it is cold-blooded proposition.
Issues Presented.
AT the outset of the strike the issues pre-
sented by the miners were these:
That a working day should consist of
eight hours. for which the miners should
receive the same pay that they now get
for ten hours labor
That the miners should receive an ad-
vance of per cent in wages.
That ton of coal should be measured at
2,24O pounds, and that the men should have
a representative to check the weighing.
That a minimum scale for day laborers
should be established similar to scale pre-
vailing in the bituminous fields.
These demands were abated and the prop
osition finally came down to the one issue
of increase of per cent in wages and
ne n 10
workers offered to arbitrate the differences
The mine owners, through President Baer,
refused arbitration. Mr.. Baer insisted that
the men should go back to work and that
there was nothing to arbitrate
There is no question that the refusal Of
the mine owners to submit the wage ques-
ton to arbitration inclined the public SEN
timent to the side of the mine workers But
arbitration meant the recognition of the
union. and that to the mine owners Vas the
crux of the whole situation.
There are about 10000 men and boys on
strike. L am told that 80 per cent of the
licensed miners would like to go back to
work These represent the English speaking,
skilled workmen. But they are in the mi
nority. The laborers in the mines, who out
number them, are practically all foreigners
and do not want to go back to work until
the strike Is won.
Question of Endurance.
1t now is a question of endurance with
the men. The officers Of the union are not
likely to call a convention and submit the
question of going back to work to a popu-
lar vote. The chances are If this were
done the men would vote to return to work
Nobody can figure very well on the ques-
ton of endurance. The workmen are not
suffering. The majority Of them have
little money and are enabled to make lit
tie. In the Scranton district the situation
is little different from other regions.
There are about 1000 girls and women,
members Of miners families, employed in
the silk mills. The wages Of these en-
ployes average from 81 to Sc a week, and
serve to keep the wolf from the door Coal
is furnished to the silk mills by the wash
ings from the culm banks. The miners
have not closed down the washeries. and
consequently the silk mills can keep run
ming and furnish employment to their chill
dren.
The Mine Workers Union Is receiving
financial aid from the outside This is dis
trihuted to needy nersons not In .aa.a..