The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-05

ural product that exists in abundance,
have had a falling out with the men
whom they employed to prepare that
product for the consumer, industry Is
threatened with paralysis Because 145,-
600 men and boys. obedient to a major
ity vote of their representatives, have
laid down their tools and abandoned
their work. the interests of seventy-slx
millions OF human beings are placed IN
jeopardy. Nlanifestly this is a prepos-
ferrous condition. for which 1t should not
be difficult to find remedy.
Let us analyze the condition little.
OF the $4,000 mine workers who are idle.
4S per cent. left their work against their
will. for of the delegates to the conven-
tion which ordered the strike. 43 per
cent voted against cessation of work.
II may be assumed that about 1000 Of
the mine workers would be at work to-
day if they were not kept under re-
straint by the organization to which
they belong
On the other hand the mine operators
have closed their mines and indicated
by what little they have said and by
their attitude that they mean to keep
them closed until their old employees re-
turn to work. 1t may be said that they
are virtually compelled to take this
course. since experience has taught that
attempts to work the mines with nom
union men would result In disorder at
least. and very probably In riot and
bloodshed. And even though there was
not this probability It would be dan
gerous to turn the work in the mines
over to green hands. Still. If the mem
bers of the United Mine Workers should
be able to hold out for an indefinite
length of time, and by degrees secure
other employment. so that they would
never return to the mines. 1t would be-
I,ae tn
do the work which they have aban-
doned.
For the present. between the majority
of the miners union that will not work
and the minority that dare not on the
one hand. and the mine operators who
are unwilling to make an attempt to
employ others to get the coal which
they control to the consumers. on the
other. the people are compelled to pay
exorbitant prices for the meager supply
that they are still able to obtain. and
in the near future will suffer greater
loss through inability to secure any
coal.
In other words. combination of labor
and a combination Of capital. arrayed
against each other. are placing restraint
upon commerce and trade
Is not government by Injunction" APP
piled to both sides. the obvious remedy?
An injunction directing President Nit
chel to call the strike order off, and
thus leave the miners who would work
but for the restraining force of that
order. free to do so. and another direct
ing the mine operators to resume the
production of coal with such working
force as they might be able to obtain.
should have the effect of providing the
relief which the public needs and to
which it is entitled.
In the matter of the eXtortion prac
ticed by the beef trust. the government
took prompt action. The condition that
has been created in the mining region
calls far more urgently for prompt and
vigorous action. 1t would be possible
for this nation to live and prosper with
out beef for an indefinite period: with
it's coal supply shut off for any consid
cradle time, disaster would come upon
it. Let the miners and operators fight,
if they cannot agree. but let 1t be i'm
pressed upon them that they must not
do it at public expense.