The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-20
THE ANTHRACITE COAL STRIKE.

The indications are unmistakable that the
anthracite coal strike is weakening. By
this Is not meant hat the strikers have
lost anything in moral courage or in con-
viction as to the justice of their cause. but
that they are losing ground through the
superior staying powers of the operators
and the persistent refusal of the latter to
yield a single point. Comparison of the
present situation with that at the begin
ming Of the strike will show this to be true.
At first all the washeries as well as the
mines were closed. and it was the policy
of the strikers to keep them closed. The
first attempts of the operators to resume
work were In the washeries, and these were
resisted by the strikers by various acts of
violence. In spite of the violence the wash
cries, one after another, resumed opera
lions until the fight on that line was prac-
tically abandoned. 1t was the same with
regard to pumping the mines. AT first Mr..
Mitchell ordered that this should be pre-
vented, but his order soon became a dead
letter, and for some time past all the
mines have been pumped. This was a sec
ond victory for the operators. Then fol-
lowed a series of efforts TO bring about ar
bitration, all of which failed, leaving the
operators unmoved and apparently masters
Of the situation. One after another the
Civic Federation. Senator Hanna, the
Pennsylvania senators, Governor Stone and
others attempted to bring about a settle
ment with absolutely no results. All ef-
forts in this direction have now ceased.
with no result apparently but developing
the infiexible determination of the ope-
rators not to yield a point. Meanwhile,
from starting the washeries, the operators
have started several collieries. The mines
are not fully manned. but the dispatches
say that mel are applying for work every
day and the output of the mines is increas-
ing. Against these facts there is nothing
to offset but the repeated declarations of
Mr.. Mitchell that he is satisfied with the
situation and that the miners are bound
to win. Mr.. Mitchell has shown some of
the qualities OF good leadership and has
succeeded in holding the confidence of the
miners to a very remarkable degree, but
his leadership and assurances alone cam
not make the strike successful when it's
lines are weakening and when the ope-
rators are gaining ground every day, as
they evidently are. II events continue to
move as they have for the last fortnight
the strike will go to pieces inside Of two
weeks. The leaders may not have given up
within that time, and Mr.. Mitchell may
still refuse to admit that there is any pos
sibility of failure, but unless things take
an unexpected turn the strike will prac-
tically nav failed within that period. In
this situation 1t Is a question whether Mr..
Mitchell ought not to advise the men to
return to work on the old terms, trusting
to the future to get better ones, and wheth-
er the anthracite miners ought not to form
a union OF their own that would be recog-
nized by the operators in the conduct of
affairs relating to the anthracite coal
regions.> This is what CommissionerlCa Ear
roll d. Wright in his recent
report. Unless Mr.. Mitchell is blind
ed by the glamour of his position he must
see that at the rate the strike is losing
ground 1t must inevitably go to pieces in
a short time, and, If he is wise, he will
advise the miners to save what they can
out of the wreck.