Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-11
As to Opening the Mines.

that they are about to resume operations
or assert that they can reopen the col
lieries any day they choose, they deceive
nobody who is acquainted with the con-
ditions under which mines are work
ed in Pennsylvania. Least OF all do
they fool the strikers. They could
import any number OF laborers willing
to work for such wages as they might
choose to pay, but II they had half a
million men OF that sort at their com
mand and all the protection the state
and federal governments are capable
OF giving, they could not reopen the
mines.
Coal mining can be done in this state
only by skilled miners holding certii-
Gates from the state attesting their
qualifications and showing that they
have served two years apprenticeship.
The certificated miners control the Sit
uation, and until they are ready to
break the strike it is idle to talk Of re-
opening the mines in day.
All the enormous damage to the an
thracite mines is due directly and
solely to the obstinacy Of the operators
in holding the false theory that the coal
measures of Pennsylvania are theirs to
do with as they please, and that they
have no public obligations. These men
have said that the coal stored by nature
for the use OF man shall not be taken
from the ground, except on conditions
fixed by them, Coal has come to be as
necessary as air and water, and the
right of society to take it for the benefit
of all is as clear as the right Of access
to water supply
Private ownership OF coal In the
ground is tolerable only so long as the
special privilege constituting the sole
basis of ownership is not abused be-
yend the limits to which society is
accustomed and assents. The perman-
ent closing OF mines is an abuse OF
privilege which cannot be tolerated,
even If the suspension Of production for
some months is to be regarded as an
exercise Of legitimate rights. If the
right to close one mine is conceded, 1t
follows that the operators may II they
please stop the mining of the anthracite
coal entirely and permanently, destroy
the collleries and exclude mankind from
all access to the natural stores OF fuel
which are indispensable to civilized
society
When winter comes the disastrous
effects OF the closing OF the mines will
be felt, and high prices will make the
people realize what monopoly OF natural
resources means Then, perhaps, 1t
will be seen more clearly that the cor
porations holding the monopoly OF
anthracite coal have been utterly con-
temptuous Of public rights, regardless
Of their obligations, false to their trust
and wantonly destructive in their abuse
of the privileges conferred upon them
by society,
The Springfield Republican, which is
neither an Anarchist nor Socialist
organ, declares that persistence by the
corporations in their present attitude
would mean revolution and an uprising
of the people to compel the opening OF
the mines even at the muzzle Of tho
rife. The declaration seems somewhat
exaggerated, but after all there is equal,
II not greater reason, for using the
military power of the state to compel
mine owners to respect public rights as
for calling out militia to safeguard the
right OF the Individual to work. The
Republican goes on to say:
1t the mine owners can open their
mines-can get help outside OF the
strikers in adequate measure-it is their
duty to do so. II they cannot, 1t is
their duty to meet the demands Of the
strikers or to submit the dispute to
arbitration, as the strikers are willing
TO do. One course or tho other must
speedily be taken in the absence OF a
breaking down OF the strike. If 1t is
not taken, the public will be moved to
take the mines under condemnation
proceedings, and enter upon their opera
tion on public account