The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-16
:, TSs
SHALL IT Be NATIONAL p?

IQe nallOndl convention OIL "lueIS WIZ
assemble in Indianapolis tomorrow to
decide whether sympathy strike Of the
bituminous coal miners shall be called
for, or whether the convention shall vote
large financial relief to the $780, 900 strik-
ing anthracite miners Of Pennsylvania.
President Mitchell has plainly intimated
that he does not desire national suspen-
sion of coal mining, anthracite and BIZ
luminous, yet the convention tomorrow,
composed of delegates from all the mining
regions Of the United States, may order
just such suspension which will surely
work disastrously for the business of the
country and for the miners themselves
Some of the delegations to the convention
have been instructed definitely by their
districts to vote for general strike Of
the bituminous miners, while others have
discretionary powers and there is un-
certainty as to how they may be DID,
vided.
It is admitted by labor officials that If
the bituminous miners are not called out,
the anthracite strike Will be of short
continuance. *, -. =: .s<s:t.9.
1t becomes, in case the convention does
not vote for national suspension of coal
mining, nice financial question as to the
strike may be aided by assessment of all
the local unions in the >bituminous dis
tricts. Mr.. Mitchell said the other day,
at Wilkesbarre, that he thought ample
provision would be made for contributions
of funds to carry the strike to certain
victory. 1t was stated by Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, recently, that his or
ganization will assist the miners to the
extent of $780, 900, but there is tntima-
tion from labor leaders that 1t would
take the federation so long to collect the
assessment that the anthracite strikers
would not be- able to hold out, as they
require the funds at once. Last year the
federation made an assessment of 5
per cent on it's members to assist the
machinists' strike, but only $45 900 was
collected out OF the $450,000 assessed.
Mr.. Mitchell, however, has been, during
the past few weeks, diligently working
from them promises of financial aid for
his strikers, and he evidently believes
/ that the convention tomorrow will not
take the extreme step of ordering the
suspension Of coal mining throughout the
United States, but conf1ne itself to a
declaration committing itself to assess
ment in aid of the anthracite miners.
The anthracite strike has lasted now
nearly up to the limit of the resources Of
the union, and If the resistance is to be
prolonged, heavy strike tax levy upon
the resources of the bitumfnous unions
will be necessary, aside from the pledge
of the Federation of Labor. If the con-
vention decides upon a general suspen-
sion of coal mining, it will assume a tre-
mendous responsibility, the ignoring Of
which will entail great distress upon the
miners as we'll as upon the business of
the country. Several hundred thousand
men will be thrown out of. employment
and disorders will inevitably break. out on
a large scale. = ~ T.
The Indianapolis : convention, to-rnor-
row, should keep a cool head and renaem-
Der that, if a suspension of coal mining
is ordered, one result will be the
Strengthening of the combinations in
coal in their power to squeeze the pub
lie with still higher prices. =.