Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22
By G. A. LYON, Jr.

~ CRANTON Wilkesbarre and all the
other anthracite cities. regarding
~ them as communities without
- prejudices for or against the min
ers the operators, all want to
believe the best; that is, they want to be-
lleve there will be no strike next April when
the three-year pact expires. They would
be terribly hard hit by another suspen-
sion of mining. Bankruptcy has been
their portion in the past when the men
have laid down their tools for a long rest,
and bankruptcy will be their portion
again If the men walk out. These cities
were never so prosperous as they have
been during the past two years-ever
since they caught their breath after the
cessation of hostilities. They have boom
ed in numbers and in wealth. They are
today types of wholesome. we'll behaved
comfortable, ambitious cities. and having
tasted the sweets of assured peace for
three seasons they crave a continuation
of that diet.
Thus Scranton. Wilkesbarre and the
other big cities of the anthracite district
are watching eagerly for every sign that
the miners will not stand out to the end
for the recognition of the union, the is
sue upon which the conflict will finally
turn. The business men of this region do
not expect much in the way of conces-
sions from the mine owners. They feel
that the operators will resist this de-
mand desperately, even If menaced by a
popular upheaval in favor of state own
ership OF mines and railroads. They are
In close touch with the representa- ives
of the owners, and they are well ac-
quainted with the sentiments that ami
mate the men who meet every week in
New York. They know that there is no
division of sentiment among the corpo-
ration leaders on this subject.
The demand for the recognition of the
union Is an echo of the strike of 1902. In
that trouble the miners sought a direct
and specific recognition that would place
the union in the position of medium of
communication between the operators
and the workers. But they sought other
things as well-a reduction of the hours
OF labor to eight a day. an increase in the
rate for mining coal, and other changes
In the method of administration. They
were most insistent upon the question of
wages, apart from the point of recogni-
ton This year, as the case is already
outlined In the form of resolutions passed
In July by at least one of the district
conventions. the demands to be made by
the union Will embrace. first of all recog-
milton, next an eight-hour day, next the
making uniform throughout all collieries
or the wage scale. and, finally, a more
satisfactory system of check Weighing
and docking for slate in the coal.
There is at present no disposition on the
pay scale although in all likelihood that
demand Will be evolved sooner or later
1t Is second nature to q labor leader in
charge of campaign to adduce as many
Issues possible and always to inject
the element Of wages. So while there is
feeling of relief in and around Scranton
that the case is not now complicated by an
insistent discussion of wages there Is no
confidence that il will not be pretty well
mixed up In terms of money before the
crisis comes.
Analyze 1t as you will after talking
with all classes involved the case comes
squarely down to a question of recogni-
ton. The men fought for that three years
ago. and while they are firmly convinced
today that they won that strike-this
sentiment is universal among them-they
do not regard their union as fully and
properly recognized today. Just how far
they will fight for recognition how much
they Will sacrifice. is a question not easy
10 answer. only a prophet will venture
an opinion. When talking confdentialIy
the men all say they will strike If the
operators do not grant recognition But
do as Mitchell says. 1t is difficult to Sc
cure from them an exact definition of
what they mean by recognition. One of
them was asked this question in explicit
terms. He was an intelligent man. mid
die aged, well dressed--it was on a Sum
day-calm spoken and of fine type of
the contract miner:
1--WE think the union should he recop
niZed. he said, because 1t stands for us
and for all of u.s.
He said more, but that was the substance
of 1t all. This Is his point of view: The
union has accomplished for the miners all
they have gained during the past few years.