The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-08
BEGINNING OF. END
Calling Out Militia Means Speedy
Resumption of Mining, Says
J. Bennett Smith. =
He Says the Coal Strike Was Never
H. Popular Among the Genu-
:: y. -. - inc Miners. 49,

calling out the state militia is the be-
ginning Of the end. The operators will
win the coal strike. There may be few
men killed, but we are used to that
In this fashion ]. Bennett Smith of
Wilkesbarre, Pa, sums up his views on
the anthracite coal strike. Mr.. Smith was
in the twin cities yesterday on business,
and only left Wilkesbarre Sunday. He
was for several years a mining eng1-
neer in the anthracite region, but for
twenty years past has been manufac-
turer of wire cables for use in the mines.
He is personally acquainted with most
of the operators and with thousands of
miners, but sides strongly with the own
ers. 49, 49,. ....-r
'The operators have to win this fight, -
said Mr. Smith to Journal man. IT
they don't, they might as we'll give, up
the mines and sink them, as far as fur
Their value to them is concerned. The
contest is to- decide whether the owners
shall control the mines or John Mitchell
If the union wins, the operators will be
powerless. It is not possible to. make
| rules that will fit any two mines, con-
ditions are so different, and to deal with
general union is impossible.
1.-The skilled miners, as a class, did not
want to, strike, Mitchell advised against
it, for he knew he couldn't win unles:
there was a presidential election. Blu
|
voted the Slay laborers and the, breaker
boys and then barely carried the propo
Esition The miners alone would have re-
jected it two to one. ,.s s-,~ !. ..
-''It is not a question Of wages that il
at the bottom Of the trouble It is {
question of recognizing the union. To SHOW
the feeling there is among the Workn en-
wanted some little. job done around hi
house. He sent to the mine for a boy
and the boss told one Of the breaker boy
| to go down to the house He refused
| to go.
y"e.What's the matter?' the boss aske'
him. d.
:. well; I don't want to 60 and dom
"'Aint your boss?'
".No, sir; you re not my boss. job
Mitchells my boss, and don't nave Z
take. orders from YOU
"If you don't obey orders I'll dis
icharge YOU .y..s:
|eyery boy in the mine out by noon.'
'The boss wouldn't stand such talk an
told the boy to get out. The boy KEEP
7 his word. BY noon all the breaker boy
were out. the mine was tied up Tor
week, and they had to take him back be
fore they could begin work. =.
"John: Mitchell has made a.statemen
to the public Of what the miners s,1 ear
He took the total wages paid and divide
by the number Of men. That Is not 1a1l
That counts the bunmers, who work
week and then spree week. 1t count
the ignorant Slavs, who are really nc
miners at all. A good miner can cut Coz
enough for a days work In four or nv
hours. and. make $3.50 to 50. These SlaV
. do not know their business, and often tW
will work a breast together and do tn
work of one man. There Is too smuc
|1abor in the mines; that Is one, troubl
: MANY of the Slavs have gone home sine
t the strike began, and others have gof
to the soft-coal fields, but they seldo1
1 make it go there.
! : ..Tn previous strikes, and I have seen
good many, they got the troops to pr
tect them I see the governor has Gale
out all the state militia That Is the OF
ginning Of the end. AS soon as thel
j are soldiers enough to protect the mine
e there are men enough waiting VINO Wal
Ito 20 to work but are AFRAID OF vlo1enc
4 to man the mines AS soon as those WI
want to work can work, the strike W
9 be over. :.
5 "won't there be some bloody riots b.
: fore that happens?
: 20. yes: there will be some trouble, ar
: few men killed; but we don't mind tina
:, We're used to 1t.
i. .'If the operators are right why don
% they agree to arbitrator
: "Recause.' said Mr. Smith, decislvel
= "there,s nothing to arbitrate. The me-
- have been paid off, haven't they? Ih'
- are not employees any longer, and the O
:, orators have nothing more to do WI
= them unless they want to come back
=, work. - . sst5