Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06

their attack will be made upon the weak
est point in the combination which opposes
That weakest point today Is the miners
wing Of the army of obstructionists- Indeed
the coal trust even denies the monoponstic
power of the labor trust. 1t contends that
refusal of the miners organization to labor
does not mean that the mines cannot be
worked. IL those who wish to labor will be
protected by the state or national authori-
ties. However the Pennsylvania law which
permits only certified miners to work gives
strength to the organized certified miners,
and so far as full operation Of the mines Is
concerned arms them with practically mo-
nopolistic powers. The operators have made
during the strike only feeble efforts to mine
and for most of the time have abandoned
this phase Of the contest and have entered
upon a struggle Of endurance in a cam
paign of mastery inactivity. There has
been comparatively little violence commit
ted by the strikers so far. 1t is only recent
ly that the sheriffs Of counties have ap-
piled to the governor of Pennsylvania for
assistance. and no appeal has yet been
made to the President of the United States
AT the present time the operator are turn
ing out only small fraction Of the normal
coal output. Only a small percentage Of
the certified miners are working or appar-
emily are ready to work today even If full
protection is furnished.
The only way to resume mining speedily
on a scale to meet the public necessity is
for the union to set all the certified miners
at once to work. But IL that is impossible,
the quickest way for the public to get at
the coal is to multiply. encourage and pro-
tect the miners who are willing to work.
md tnl1 h.
protection for miners who will labor The
deadlock has been between certified miners
who. enjoying a labor monopoly would not
work. and operators who would not operate
with the only labor that was legally avail
able. The public demands that the coal be
mined and transported as rapidly as pos
sibie over the country. If the operators
would bring this about by concessions the
public would be pleased. If, refusing con-
cessions. they can resume mining through
other workmen the public will of necessity
be content. The people must have coal
The public will brook no violent interior
erce by strikers with certified miners,
whether few or many, who are willing to
work The sheriffs Of the various counties,
the governor of Pennsylvania and the
President of the United States will be held
by popular sentiment rigidly accountable
for the exact performance of their duties
In the matter Of protecting life and prop
erty and auelling disorder
This process of securing fuel through
desertion of the union by certified miners,
protected in their work, will clearly be slow
and unsatisfactory but 1t is apparently the
inevitable solution Of the problem, and the
miners organization would do we'll to give
heed to this prospect. Apparently after a
longer or shorter period of public suffering,
and distress among the miners families,
the strikers must temporarily yield Why
not make the concession now, when the
public necessity. clearly expressed by the
President of the United States, gives them
the opportunity of doing SO in a manner
and under conditions which will assure
them public sympathy and support when
their Issues with the operators are again
raised? By taking the course now which
seems inevitable at some time the miners
will win public gratitude and gain a tactical
triumph, leaving the temporarily victorious
mine owners to bear the full burden of an
intense and widespread popular resent
ment, which in legislatures and in all other
places where they come In touch with and
are subjected to public sentiment will in the
near future be keenly felt by the arrogant
operators.