The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-12
IN THE ANTMRAcITE REGION.
The Outlook Described Az Not Favorable
to Peace.

klIuHIlOH III DIODuViN W Ao i'N
Mt this writing. MIR. Mitchell has already
ordered a strike, under the euphonious phrase
Suspension OF work, which OF course causes
a smile but deceives no one Inc MINES
generally are idle. mining properties are
guarded by armed men, workmen mdepehu-
ent Of union membership are set upon pea'eh,
threatened: thou sands indirectly connected
with or dependent upon the mining inuusVIy
have been thrown out OF work anu puH'hes9
of many kinds has suffered seriously.
In short the strike Is on and the only aues-
tlon Ia as to its continuance.
Apparently the storm centre OF the struggle
Ia New York city: the parties thereto oens
MIR. Mitchell's committee and Two commit
tees of operators -one composed OF MI Dae'
and his associates, the other OF some mtg
seven independent operators. whose spokes-
man Just now is Mr.. Cake. For a iortnlsn0
Mr.. Baer's forces and Mr.. Mitchell's nave
been engaged in discussions: and at last q
shot has been fred by the independent opera
tors, practically all OF whom i've In Ihe
anthracite regions close to their mines De-
cause they come In daily and nightly contact
with actual existing conditions. these inue-
pendent operators know the situation ana iS
dangers far better than some OF the other
gentlemen whose business compels them 10
live I'm or near New York and Philadelphia.
Mr.. Cake. Mr.. Ashley, John Markle and their
associates know the sound OF rifle shots, the
roar Of mobs, the fare Of burning breakers'
and they face the situation squarely. lhere
Ia no nonsense about their attitude ana they
minoe no words when. In the signed report
sent to New York on Tuesday, they declare
that none OF them has forgotten the fearful
events OF 1902. when mon who desired or were
compelled by family necessity to go to work
were wounded, MANNED and even murdered
1t IL generally believed. by the way, that
during the strike OF 1907 the astounding num-
Der Of twenty-one murders were
In the anthracite regions. These murdered
men and lads were not members OF Mr..
Mltchell's band OF philanthroplsts. but were
individuals who claimed their right to earn
a living under conditions Of liberty men
toned as an inalienable right in the Declara-
ton OF Independence. They-poor fellows
learned that the Government OF Pennsyl-
vania had no use for the Declaration OF In
dependence. Twenty-one OF them died. bru-
tally murdered. Not a single murderer has
been brought to justice. That such condi-
tlons could exist, that such a benishted, Law
less region could be found within hve hours
OF New York, and within four hours Of indie
pendence Hall. Ii well nigh Incredible: but
it is true, and the independent operators, at
any rate. do not blink the facts. terrible as
they are.
In the statement which Mr.. Cake carried
to New York on Tuesday these operators
continue thus t
And the United Mine Workers have already given
ample warning that these acts of violence will soon
be repeated, or even exceeded, unless we surrender
TO their demands. Not only have they lain idle
at our collieres before receiving any reply TO our
demands, but men attempting TO work have already
been actually wounded, and others. in many places.
have been Inundated by threats. beatlngs or a
similar display of force. The hremen and men
running the pumps that are necessary TO prevent
the flooding Of mines are SO frequently and per-
s~lstently threatened that many Of them say they
must quit work. II this be a fair sample OF q re-
publican form Of government all good citizens may
well pray for a despotism.
In view OF these well known facts. we contend
that It would be better that our mines shall lie Idle
for years than that we shall sccede 10 the highway
manllke demands Of an organization that lacks
either the wisdom or the ability TO restrain its
members from acts OF violence that would disgrace
;ne much desp,sed Russia. ID
These are not idle words from irresponsible
sensation mongers, but the deliberate opinion
OF astute business men, accustomed to handle
commercial and financial affairs Of magnitude.
That Ia what makes the statement 30 inn
pressive.
Now, nobody who has actual knowledge
Of existing conditions believes that the opera
tors want a long strike Some OF them.
possibly. would not be sorry to see the present
-suspension Of work. continue until they
Gail hdIhV u iutbt Roit VI II thbi lhoub
reserve which has been laid aside and which
means just so many millions of dollars tied
up which is earning no interest. But the
mine operators business Is to mine coal and
to sci. II at as high a price as possible without
disturbing conditions Of trade-that is, with
out forcing the public to pay such excessive
rates as would compel substitution Of other
fuel OF Government retaliation in some
form. On the other hand, Mr.. Mitchell and
his associates certainly do not want to MAIN
tain a long strike. il 1t can be avoided This
is especially true at present, when every
thing la against them. The chances are,
however. that the committees OF operators
and Mr.. Mltchell's committee would find it
extremely difficult to stop the strike which is
now on. If the operators hold out inleKibly
for the open shop Mr.. Mitchell may possibly
accede to the condition: but those up here in
the anthracite region are far from sanguine
that the rank and file Of the United Mine
Workers will give In. It is not In a railroad
presidents oflce In New York that the mat
ter will be settled. 1t is right here, In a hun
bred towns and mining patches, that final
decision will be made by nearly 100. 900 men
and boys. q largo number of whom would
rather fight than work any day. So well
known Is the temper Of the men that many
observers incline to the opinion that Mr..
Mitchell, being in a desperate situation
80 far as retaining his leadership is con-
cerned-would not dare to give In to the open
shop demand,
Furthermore. the unexpected ia always to
be looked for at such a time as the present.
BY attacking and killing two or three indie
pendent workers half a dozen drunken miners
anywhere In the ~region-may bring on a riot
of such proportions az 20 compel Governor
~Pennypacker to throw troops into the field.
After that guerrilla warfare would last for
weeks and months. unless history for once
failed 70 repeat itself.
Taken altogether. the anthracite situation
Is more critical than at any previous time
since the trouble began. To those here In
the region the outlook is not favorable for
peace.
Former Rules OF the House.