The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-14

H.ia''t irastf5tis4 AL recent call Tor a /
A-l4s4saaAi meeting of coal opera !
tors of America to be /
~ ~. held at Chicago on
@ Nov. p is an early in
dication that the pro-
ILL., ltstl e. visionaI agreement re-
sulting from the ar
bitratfon proceedings will not con-
tinue. It is also an ominOus presage OF
further and even more serious dis
agreement. In labor circles it is cur
rent that on the expiration of the ar
bitration compact, April 1, 1906 gen
eral strike viii be ordered-that is, in
the event of the rejection by the opera
tors of certain demands which VIII be
made by the labor organizations at that
date On the other hand, it is declared
quite as unreservedly that as pre-
caution against the threatened Strike
81 win be proposed at the meeting that
the operators on April 1, 1906, suspend
work ait every mine in Pennsylvania
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia
and Kentucky for an indefinite period.
All the wage scales in the states
named and practically all others in the
country become imperative next April
At that time all of the different points
Of dispute which were so ingenlously
Roosevelt and his commission VIII re-
eppear with renewed vigor. The lapse
of time has not made them more toll
cradle to the coal operators or less vital
to the men who toll in the under world
The situation win be even more com
plex than it was at the time Of the ar
bifration. There has been no growing
disposition on the part Of either side
to yield. but there have been supple
mentary demands that viii increase the
bitterness. The operators win ask the
workers to accept a lower wage, and the
ORGANIZED workmen win in their turn
demand an eight hour workday and
some sort of recognition for their or
ganization.
Experience has shown that it is not
to the interest of the coal operator to
do everything in his power to avoid
these labor disputes. If he is prudent
enough to mine great stores of his
staple during the peace intervals he
may anticipate the approaching rup-
ture with calm uucOncern, assured that
the actual loss viii not be his to
mourn The price of his commodity
may be advanced safely now because
Of the stoppage of production, and he
may dispose Of his accommodations at
his leisure and at his own figure. He
is certain that there will be gain and
the loss is problematical and a consid-
Grafton for the future.
Until recently it has been the fash
ion for the friends of the trade Organi-
cations to descant feelingly on the pri-
walton and physical distress incident
to the strike or lockout. It is evident
that this view of the situation has
been perfectly legitimate in the past
and that none of the public sympathy
which has been evoked by its pitiful
recital has been wasted. Now, how
ever the matter seems to have taken a
different aspect. 1t seems to be the
mention Of the mine workers to con-
vey the impression that the indefinite
period of enforced fdleness is not with
out it's positive advantages to them as
a class. Organization has become sc
perfect and so paternaI in its super
vision that careful provision is made
for the famine in times of plenty.
To illustrate stil further the general
preparedness of the two great indus
trial forces which viii clash on April
L If no unforeseen power interposes, il
may be stated that since the great
strike of 1902 the coal operators have
been piling up great stores of coal
Many millions of tons have been dis
tributed among the various storage
points along the Reading, the Lehigh
the New Jersey Central, the Lackawan
ma, the Erie and other roads. 1t is es
timated that at the rCsent writing
there are at least 10000, 600 tons along
the lines OF the eleven coal carrying
roads traversing the strike district. I
is true that anthracite coal is not pro
tected by the tariff, but IS per cent o
the entire field is owned and contrOlle'
by a group of men so few in numbe
that they might be slowed away com