The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-08-05
ANOTHER COAL MINERS
STRIKE may Be FORCED
Everything in Mining Circles
Indicates That Operators
Are Getting Ready.
To Force Issue With the Un-
ion--Baer and His Col
leagues Want Revenge.

l0n--Baer ana His Col
leagues Want Revenge.
Cleveland, o., Aug. 3.-Union labor
leaders throughout the minink belt
of Ohio and Pennsylvania are Of the
opinion that another big miners strike
will be forced by the coal operators.
The following article from Max Hayes
in the Cleveland Citizen will undoubt-
edly give western readers some infor-
nation on the matter:
LAS I have announced several times
the developments in the mining indus
try are in the direction of great
national suspension in both the bitum-
1nous and anthracite regions. The
statements regarding possible trouble
that appeared in this paper were based
upon information received direct from
prominent national official, who ex-
pressed the hope that organized labor
would be forewarned and would also
be in a position to- again assist the
miners If called upon at a critical per-
iod.
During the past week dispatches
from Columbus have appeared in the
daily papers Stating that the Ohio
operators are making every prepara-
ton for fight. They demand that
the miners accept a sweeping reduc-
t1on from IS cents a ton to 60 cents
ton for mining coal. The bosses set
up the old cry that .it1s unprofita BILE to
compete with West Virginia. where the
mines are largely non-union and the
wage scale is consequently lower.
On the other hand, the miners have
been complaining that they are un-
able to earn enough wages to support
their families, as they are working on
short time at present, the majority
securing two, three and occasionally
four days a week. They declare that
under no circumstances will they accept
a further reduction than that made
in Indianapolis at tteat convention
a year ago last5sspF{ag.
''The deadlock that exsists in Ohio is
likewise reflected in Pennsylvania. 1t
is reported from Pittsburg that trouble
is liable to begin In that state before
the winter begins In both the hard
and soft coal fields. The action is to
operators in the anthracite region to
force general lockout. Vice-Presi-
dent Lewis is quoted as saying that
if the men stick together, as: he ex-
poets them to do, 1t will mean the
creates conflict between organized cap
ital and labor that the world has ever
known.
According to Vice-President Lewis,
every preparation is made by the opera
tors in the east for their greatest
fight All the eastern railroads are
erecting great bins which vii be filled
with coal In anticipation. of the strike.
For weeks President Mitchell has
been in the anthracite region rallying
the men for-~tl,exhh5satened conflict
when the agreement that was forced
upon the anthracite operators expires
next spring, and district officers and
organizers are busy everywhere
strengthening the lines.
"And it is undoubtedly true that the
next strike of the miners will be the
greatest that has ever occurred in this
or any other country, nor is it prob
able that the contest can be post
poned longer than next May.
"Baer and his crowd of capitalists
have been chatting -san1er the agreement
that was forced upon them by govern
ment interference in 1902. and their
bitterness has made them almost idiotic
in their desire for revenge.
among the bituminous barons the
West Virginia situation is unquestion-
ably a source of annoyance; but more
important than the competition that
they must meet from that state is the
fact that the combines in the princi-
pal states are fighting among them
selves or are having trouble with their
stockholders.
Some of the shrewd manipulators
see a golden opportunity to make
barrels of money. BY forcing ma
tional suspension they restore harmony
among the big operators. scare and
squeeze out the little investors, hold
their surplus coal. till prices have reach
ed the top notch, and stand favorab BILE
chance Of beating down wages and
cost Of production.
'The magnates are absolutely tndif-
ferent to the hardships and suffering
that will have to be endured by the
mine workers and the great mass OF
people who are compelled to depend
upon coal for fuel. They are in the
game for every dollar that is to be had.
and they don't care a snap how; much
misery is spread broadcast as a re-
suit Of their Unsuitable craving for
profits.
But their greed is likely ; to cause
their downfall, Just as it has been
the undoing of other plutocrats before
them. The thoughtful people of this
land will readily observe, that the coal
barons are not only conspiring to OPP
press the miners, but are actually NOV
ing to paralyze the Industries Of the
country, force millions OF innocent
men, women and children into poverty
and want, and perhaps cause bread
riots, instructions and revolutions.
I'VE predict that if the money lust
and brutal grab game Of the opera
tors result in forcing the miners up