Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

as boomerang. and they will probably
consent to its incorporation with the other
demands only for the sake Of later trad
ing. Thus 1t may come about that AFTER
the two impossible demands have been
eliminated in the consultation between the
union and the operators, and the eight
hour demand has been withdrawn because
many of the best men in the union do not
care about it, the issue will focus pointedly
upon the question Of recognition, with the
miners strategically In the advantage
through having waived three out of four
points in the controversy.
In any case nobody believes today that
the operators, If pressed, would grant the
eight-hour demand The drop OF an hour
from the working day with no reduction IN
pay would be equivalent at the least TO an
immediate increase of - per cent in the
cost of producing coal. the operators, IL
is conceded by even the most optimistic
of the business men in the anthracite re-
gion are today agreed to close their col
lieries Indefinitely rather than grant this
claim, with it's assured and threatened re-
suits. For they know that the pubic
while long-suffering, will never staha Iol ,
the increase of II per cent in the retaii
coal price This resulting price increase,
nv the way is usually quoted at 10 per
cent, for 1t is felt that when the coai tnlneu
on an eight-hour basis is marketed the Con
sumner will pay fully that much more, IN
asmuch as the middemen will feel free 10
demand an increased share to balance
heavier expenditures.
WHY should the operators feel afraid TO
nusb the public too far? Here a new rae
tor enters into the case, the public demand
for railway rate regulation by act OF Con-
gress. accented by the appearance OF
growing sentiment in favor of the state
ownership of mines and railroads
IT is broad truth at this present moment
that the administrators of the coal-mining
and carrying railroads are much more con-
cerned In the rate regulation fight than In
the prospects of a strike next April. Ihey
are bending every energy to prevent the
threatened legislation. They expect, In the
main. to win out at this coming session or
Congress But the shrewder Of them know
that a big coal strike, such as that OF
next spring will surely be If 1t occurs, will
have a serious effect upon the public MIND,
and perhaps hasten the day Of radical legis-
lation by both state and nation.
The operators are in certain sense De-
tween the devil and the deep sea. If they
Weld to the demand for an eight-hour DAY
and add to the burden o. The consumer.
they suffer in consequence an increase OF
the burden Of odium. III they resist
this demand and strike results. the con-
seouent high coal prices and the physical
suffering and the business losses Will in
some part be directly attributed to them
and not to the workers.
Thus there is little ease of mind In the
capitalistic coal-mining circles, and 1t Is for
that reason that the prevailing hope among
the operators now Is that the existing
agreement will be extended as sort of
permanent modus vtvendi. Such a result
would greatly please the business interests
of the hard coal district. 1t would unques-
tionably please the consuming public
throughout the country. The vital ques-
ton Of the time is, would it please the
workers?
In point of its effect upon the individual
workers an extension of this agreement
ought to be heartily welcomed. The min
ing cities are booming today never be-
fore The miners look sleek and prosperous.
The women look happy and are well dress
ed. The children, thanks to the operation
of the newly-enforced child-labor law, are
going to school in greater numbers. The
banks of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and the
other hard-coal cities are showing big bal
ances and are in sounder condition than
ever. Business In these communities is on
the rush. It is almost impossible to find
a vacant store in Scranton, whereas. three
years ago at this time the ITO Lease signs
were to be seen throughout the business
district.
Il
Saturday night in Scranton is demonstra-
tive of the good times that have prevailed
during these three years of peace. The
streets are crowded with merry people. So
Der, decently behaved. well dressed.
wholesome throng of Industrious, well-to-
do citizens and their wives and sweet
hearts. Nearly everybody carries a bun
die, often an armful of packages. The 4
shops are crowded And the same is true
of all the cities of the hard-coal district
There Is plenty of money, and II Is being
spent freely, despite the possibility OF .