Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-09
TELEPHONES.
MINERS AND BOSSES.

This is the eighteenth week OF the
strike of the anthracite coal miners, ana
the end is not yet in sight, though power
fui agencies are at work to bring 1t IN
Ticw.
The miners and their families have SUI
fered keenly from their loss of income.
though they have had considerable help
from other labor organizations, and VIII
be able to hold out for weeks yet. The
relief fund amounts to about S2,0Oo,00O per
month, and is distributed where needed
among the liz, 900 men and boys who are
on the strike.
The man who is charged with the exc
cution of the trust is William B. Wilson,
secretary-treasurer of the Mine Workers
Association of America, and his headquar-
ters are at Indianapolis. he is a Scot by
birth, draws a salary of $1,000 per an
NUM-, and contributes one-fourth of his
pay to The relief fund.
Pending negotiations for peace, not
few of the strikers have gone back to their
former homes in the country, while some
others have obtained new employment,
forever.
The coal companies are now sending to
market somewhere about one hundred
thousand tons Of coal a week, or about
one tenth of the normal product But the
strikers assert that much of the coal now
being marketed is taken from the refuse
piles in and out of the mines-that is to
n,erly would not put upon the market,
they now put in order and find ready
purchasers for.
We are of opinion that there is some
truth IN this charge; nevertheless.
there is no doubt of the fact that the COM
number of their operatives. and the
OUTPUT Of the mines. Where the military
are stationed non-union men seem will
ing to work, but much complaint is made
by them of the cold shoulder given their
wives and children by the old residents
of the mining towns.
Senator Plat continues to predict that
The strike will be ended soon, and he
usually knows what be is talking about,
politically speaking. No doubt, he counts
much upon the effect Of the authorized
interview given out by the President on
his late visit to Philadelphia. In that
statement the President made it perfect
ay plain that he wished the Republican
leaders of that State to have the honor
and glory, and labor, of reconciling the
operators and operatives.
That was notice enough to the coal
barons, but We cannot doubt that he has
communicated his views to them directly,
Tie eau threaten the whole combine with
b. reduced tariff on coal if they will not
WELD to reason and step forward and
save the Republican party from defeat
at the polls this fall Great will be the
responsibility that the coal barons viii
assume IL they refuse to compromise anc
defeat comes upon their party at the con
gressional elections in November. We
don't believe they'll dare to take any sucf
risk! Rather than that some sort Of
scheme Of reconciliation will be devised
and proposed. we think. The difficultie:
In the way appear to be almost insur
mountable, tu. the danger to the Reprr.i
can party also is great.
And surely among the men of genius
who are managing all the great industrial
combines-men whose operations il
finance are worldwide-some one will b,
found with sagacity enough to draft s
treaty OF peace which will put the miner:
back to work, relieve the alarm Of Goa
consumers, and get the Republican part,
OF Pennsylvania out of the hole that it Il
HI.