Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-13
AlseAllANEoua AlcoAn
Proanaot. of a coal slrL.e.

The people oi the country are con-
ironted with most uncomfortable pros
pect Of a determined strike Of coal miners,
beginning. probably, on the first of April
Tho uncomfortable features of the situation
arc, FIRST, that a strike would cause
scarcity Of coal and, consequently, higher
prices; second even the avoidance of a
strike would be followed by higher prices,
a. acquiesconco in the demands OF the
miners for higher wages and shorter hours
would add 10 the price of coal. and the
patient public would promptly be sad-
died with the increase.
The situation just now has very
gloomy look The operators have fatty
rejected the demands of the miners COM
mittcc for higher wages, shorter hours of
labor and recognition Of tho Union.
Instead they haye suggested o. renewal
OF existing arrangements Tor three years
This counter proposition opens the way
Go further negotiations. but there is little
room for hoping tInt further negotiations
would better the situation The rejection
by the miners of the proposition for d,
thcc.ycars renewal Of existing arrange
mcnts would mean q strike. and ae their
proposition was formulated hy thc com
vcn,ion recently held ai shamohin. there
j. Slight probability that ID win bo ro-
codod lrom
rhco IS much talk of President Roosc-
volt taking % hand in ihc direction of
d,oumg a strike, as De did several years
ago hut it is hardly probable that he
would bo successful second Time The
situation at present j. 30 tense that little
modification seems possible unless tho
miners abandon their demands For the
reply of the operators was such positive
refusal 60 grant the demands OF the miners
that ii does not seem possible that thcy
can retrlct 20 the slightest extent
It Is fortunate for the people chat the
strike ii come e must will be precipilated
ON the verge OF summer instead oil on ihg
verge OF vintor They are bound 10 bc lh,
principal sufercr. no matter what time
of year irikc may tart but thIs strk,
viii be one of most unusual length il Il
shall continue go the time when the use of
coal as a iuerior warming houses become.
necessary. The people had am expcrenc q
OF vinlcr marked By q coal strike. with
coal scarce and high not such great
while ago, and they do not care TO repeat
1t soon ior many years
Ii is most unfortunate that tho poopl,
should be subjected TO @ system that inn.
poses evNpcnse and suffering upon them
no matter which way il may be deter
mined For they will be mulctod n
extra expenses whether the coal strk,
shall come 20 pass. or ho avertcd hy th,
granting of The miners demands The,
are, to use a homely Old phrase 'betweel
the devil and the deep sea- bound to bl
tomented or tortured, no matter whicl
way they turn
And yet the suggestion of government
control of the coal supply of the country
affords no promise of relief Govern
mont operation Of coal mines and govern
menl supervision of coal distribution
would be enormously expensive. I'M
proof of this contention Is found IN In
eNpensiveness of methods cmploye,
IN the ordinary and natural functions q
government. With the coal supply mine.
and distributed by ihc government. there
fore, the expense would De an enormou
burden upon the people. Even IT thI
expense WAS not entirely covered by th
retail charges for coal. thus bearing al
ccty upon the people, Il would have {
be met by deficiency appropriation. an
that deficiency would be wiped out. YES
after year by taxes oxiortod from tn
people In fact, from Whatever point {
,iow the situation is looked upon, the ou
look is a gloomy one for the people.