New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-11
DO NOT FAVOR STRIKE.
Leaders of Miners Issue an Impor-
tant Letter to WOrkmeH.

Indianapolis March 1O-The United Mine
Workers local unions IN Indiana. Ohio. West
ern Pennsylvania, Illinois. Maryland. Central
Pennsylvania Michigan. Kentucky. West Nir-
GINA and Iowa. that are TO vote on Tuesday on
the proposition 10 accept q reduction OF ODD
per cent in ages or close the soft coal mines
on April !. Will receive their ballots tomorrow
morning. with the ballots VIII be sent out the
circular letter that the national convention on
Monday authorized President Mitchell. Vice
President T. L. Lewis and Secretary Treasurer
W b. Wilson 20 address TO the locals setting
out their recommendations that the reduction be
accepted and stating the reasons FOR accepting.
The letter says in part:
No one who is familiar with the past history
Of the United Mine Workers or ssnneLlta WI
Judgment strike would accomplish beneficial r.,
or a single conflict all that our ORGANIZATION ,-5
gained for the mine workers in the laSi $500 1f
~ - j,,t ,tras Cents a ton on a run-of mine
basis and five cents ton on lump coal OASIS v
I ssifle corse1uerces Of such an important act
1,s so ~ lion has been riding
the crest Of an Industrial boom. IT. has rapla,ty
which IN connection with a conservative policy has
enabled Il 10 increase our 49, ~ Cen, II
bas firmly established within the central coal fed
ana ana y bas secured the check6ff system. BY
- - -,e~s1r working in and around the
MtIoa e rS,ire5 10 nav his pro rata share toward
mainfanins The orFanization which has secured
for him such improved conditions Of employment.
DECLINE COMING.
II is conceded on all sides hat, the apex - OF
industrial activity has been reached. ana We ~
slowly moving toward an ln4us'li1- -, ~, 81
ing Tor a reduction In wages Of j. PCT cent lh err
proposition Wds 9ppose9i 10Y 'S ,,~ ,,-1r'a7d As
an ultimatum from which they could roi ne move
they oI s q ~, 5S "a 'ert ~
We know how hard it is - be compelled 10 &c
HH.H
ce1f slightly lower rate and hold your orEaniza-
Jlon lI,@Ts yfier ,pa future ~ the trade may
show. than 10 he forced 10 accept a greater re-
leave our organization weakened and oe-
moralized that it would be unable to cope With TIE
vast combinations OF capital now engaged IN the
coal trade
NO CERTAINTY OF HELP.
II a strike IS inauEurated. We have no assurance
EVss- Tireina outside OF the KanaNha field and
few operations on the Baltimore ana ONO Ig ,ti
aeIds in Fennsylvania. be depended upon to cease
work II general suspension is declared IN me
Tat might not materially injure US in the face u
to our success when the market is on the decline .
Of a long struggle when they know that others are
striking also viii hesitate Weake2 ana I "a Ean
produced and shipped past their own doors inj9 .
With large numbers Of men in Western Pennsyl- /
vania unfamiliar with the principles or uaGe F.
solid during a long conflict under conditions OF I
,hfs kind II our forces iu that field are defeated
and wages and worse conditions are forced 7
on them 81 would De impossible f0r the miners In /
the other fields maintain even the rates that are
now being offered and. with "a weakened 0rEanizd- z
tior We would be confronted with the possibility +
that some Of the operators may seek 10 widen the
aiferential between pick and machine mining.
The experiences Of the past have shown Us CON +
clusively the folly of striking when tho markets .
are going down. All we have 20 DO is % remember .
The anthracite strike Of 1S75. the dissolution ~ tho
Joint agreement 81 $50 the coke strike 0f 1921 and
The general suspension 81 1894 in order 90 he con-
WINGED ~ the truth Of this statement We are now
upon the of Presidential election. ana these .
wears Vroycrbially duh. because ~ INC com .
nercsal disturbances which they produce. : two .
wear contract would carry as beyond the period oT
the election and the unsettled industrial conditions
that follow 81 its wake. In addition u that II
would contracts 70 expire AZ the same
a position act with greater unity, If we so de
sired. than could at any other time " hen We
consider that the price offered 10 rs in two year
contract IS the highest price have had for many
repeat that f. would be the most serious mistake 3
our organization has ever made 20 take the chances
al losing the scale offered. Tho eight hour
wo-llday. the seven cent differsntial between Dick
and machine mining already established IN some ]
States the check-Of system. the Joint conference
hled Us secure these things and many other /
rights and privileges which we did NOS formerly
possess. "a an attempt 10 maintain rate OF three
cents and five cents per ton greater than we can
secure 10y ueaCcabe methods.
This IS an We can hope 20 gain by strike. and the
possibilities Of loss much out or proportion
10 the amount that can he won 10y a. suspension
that earnestly urge YOU 10 vote % faN1r or
accepting the ultimatum OF the operators rather
than enter into a strike at this time.