The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-26
SHORTAGE OF STEAM FUEL WAS
THE CAUSE.
Green Ridge Iron Company Runs Out
Of Coal and Is Compelled to Lay
OF It's Men and Shut Down the
Works 1ndefinitely-Rev. DR.. Nc
Leod Declares the Last Order Of the
Mine Workers Was Blunder.
Views Of the Engineering and
Mining Journal.


probable though that others will have
to follow suit. 1t was stated on re-
liable authority Saturday that large
shipments of soft coal are en- route for
Scranton and that before the week Is
over dense black smoke will be seen
curling from many factories and mill
chimneys. One good-sized industry Is
already using soft coal.
There has been no change of moment
in the strike situation during the past
two days and none is expected before
Monday next, the date set for the
pumprunners, firemen and engineers to
quit work If they are not granted an
eigh hour day without reduction in
wages. The companies, it is UNDER
stood, will refuse to accede to the de-
mand and If the men quit will put 9TH
ers in their places.
DIR. M'LEOD's SERMON.
At the First Presbyterian church
last night Rev. James Mcleod, D. D.,
in discussing the strike made the dec
laration that the order calling out the
pump runners, firemen and engineers
was blunder and, in all justice,
should be withdrawn. He said:
In the present conflict between the coal
corporations and their employees, the
Christian pulpit should not be an untn-
| terested spectator AS citizens. ministers
of the Gospel of Christ should be always
careful in respect both of their speech
| and conduct: and at such time as this.
| they should be doubly careful When ex-
forting others to behave as citizens in
a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
they should set worthy example OF
Christian behavior. Peace and concord
are not likely to be promoted by clergy
men who are in the habit of speaking
| 'unadvisedly with their lips" The eXag-
geration of a truth may turn out to be
mischevous error If 1 should say that
all "coal operators are angels, 1 would
be about as far from speaking the truth,
as If should say that all strikers and
"strikc-leaders' are drunkards. Liquor
saloons and drunkards have sins enough
for which they must answer, without
bringing against them "a railing accusa-
tion," and charging them with a crime
of which they are not guilty. To say that
all strike leaders are drunkards, is as far
from the truth as it would be to say that
all drunkards are strike leaders. blessed
are the peacemakers," Is beatitude
which is worthy of special study at the
present time.
PRESENT CONFLICT.
In the present conflict in this region,
between employees and employers, it is the
duty of all good citizens to do everything
in their power to promote peace and to
bring about a good understanding be-
tween the contending parties. The issues
involved are momentous and far reaching,
and they will never be settled permanent
ly until they are settled right.
1t must be conceded that laborers and
capitalists have an equal right to enter
into combinations on their own behalf.
1t should also be affirmed that if no en-
ployer has any right to injure the prop
erty of his employe, neither has any enl-
ploye or any combination of employees any
right to injure the property OF his en-
ployer.
This is vital point in the present con-
flict. The command has already been is
sued to laborers In the coal fields, that II
their demands are not granted on or be-
fore the second day of June-one week
from tomorrow-then they must quit
work, and allow the mines to be flooded,
and thus do all in their power to injure
the property of their former employers.
The issuing of that order is a bad blum
der. 1t is blunder, which, If carried
out, may result not only in great injury
to valuable property, but in the destruc-
tion of many precious lives. Its tendency
Is in that direction, and, if carried out,
that will be its probable result. Such an
order is unwise, unpatriotic and unchris-
tian. 1t cannot be justified In the court
of reason or of conscience. 1t is bad tao
tics.
OUGHT TO BE WITHDRAWN.
That order ought forthwith to be
withdrawn. If the cause of the miners
be righteous, let them light 1t out on
other lines, if it takes them all sum-
mer; but If they insist upon carrying out
this part of their programme, their de-
feat, in my judgment, Is certain, and
do not hesitate to say that II this order Is
obeyed by the workmen, their defeat and
the defeat of the Miners union will not
only he certain, but 1t will be richly de-
served. These coal fields are valuable.
Coal is a public necessity. Its owners
have right to protect their property,
and if these strikers attempt to interfere
with that right they will soon find them
selves In the grasp of a righteous law,
which will compel them to submit, and
subject them to merited punishment. No
loyal citizen will interfere with the rights
of his neighbOr, or no good citizen will
injure either the person or the property of
his neighbor. The application of the Col
den Rule is what is needed to settle this
conflict.
1t is easier to make a mistake than 1t Is
to mend It. 1t Is an easy matter to make
big blunder, 1t Is not quite so easy to
acknowledge it, But 1t is better to sink
ones pride and confess the >blunder. than
permit In carrying out the blunder, and
thereby court defeat. Christianity is the
basis of the best citizenship, and both
Christianity and the best citizenship cry
out against the adoption of any unlawful
or unjust means in order to secure our
ends. however righteous we may think
them to be. 1t Is the duty of all the
strikers" and of all parties concerned
In this conflict, and of all true patriots to
"behave as citizens, worthily." If they
do this. the right will prevail and this
community may then expect a long season
of peace and prosperity. For this, let all
good citizens labor and pray.
FROM A TRADE JOURNAL
With reference to the mine strike the
Engineering and Mining Journal of
Saturday said:
Some people cannot or will not learn
from experience. and prefer the absurd
statements published by irresponsible
newspapers to the dictates of plain COM
mon sense. At least this seems to be the
only explanation that can be given for the
furry in the anthracite market In April
there We're shipped, In round numbers,
100000 tons of coal from the mines; the
production to May II probably amounted
to about 100000 tons more. But very
small part of this has been held by the
railroads, and the largest part of the re-
mainder has not been consumed, It is
held by dealers and individual consum-
ers. Talk of an impending coal famine
and a general suspension of all industrial
activity comes from overheated brains.
If the strike lasts till August I. or II,
as seems unbelievable. the bituminous
mines in number Of districts deliberate
ly violate their agreements with opera