New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-08
rHr MENACE or aENERAL srRIkE.

THE MENACE OF A GENERAL STRIKE
The close of the conference OF coal operators
and miners at Indianapolis discovered a solitary
point of agreement between these producers Of
q national necessity. They were unanimous re-
garding the inevitability of a strike. This con-
cord was such that it is impossible to say which
side was more emphatic in its predictions Of the
catastrophe. Both were naturally positive, for
each felt that the public fear and indignation to
be aroused by the prospect of strike would be
its most effective weapon 10 compel complete or
partial surrender by the other The public was
taken as a large and silent partner into the con-
troversy. and two months were considerably
given II In which to make an impressive exhibit
ton Of its emotions.
The bituminous coal miners demanded an
increase Of wages. At first 1212 per cent in
crease was asked, but later this was modified
to the wagner demand, substantial increase.
understood to mean a restoration in the bitumin-
GUS fields of the rate of wages prevailing in 1903
In that year the boom in the demand for soft
coal caused by the anthracite strike collapsed,
and the miners voluntarily submitted TO a cut of
So per cent. The operators say the conditions
in the coal market are no better now than they
were in 1903. and that to increase wages is i'm
possible. John Mitchell, the miners leader did
not complain in the convention of the hard life
of the workmen but insisted tnat in the pros
perity of the day they must have share. He
said "The country is enjoying unprecedented
industrial prosperity and the coal trade papers
"join In the prediction that the outlook is
bright Every factory is running, every INDUS
"try is operating every railroad is busy; never
twas more coal used" The anthracite miners
have not yet formulated their demands
President Mitchell and his brother officers have
been working for more than two years to get all
the working contracts in the bituminous dis
tricts to expire on the same date as the three
wear award of the Anthracite Strike Commits
sion. March 81, 1906 This has been accom-
plished so that the coal miners, anthracite and
bituminous, in one union and bound by no con-
tract, present united front in the demand for
higher wages. A resolution passed by the United
Mine Workers in convention before the confer
ence between the bituminous operators and min
ers declares that no district under the jurlsdic-
ton of the United Mine Workers, whether an
"thracite bituminous or block COAL in the United
States or Canada, shall make any agreement
"for a scale Of wages unless all districts are In
"cluded" This efectually ties up the fates of the
anthracite and bituminous miners and is the
elimination of Mitchells policy. 1t was a lesson
of the 1902 strike that the hard and soft coal
workers together could deliver a heavier blow
than either could deliver alone. They are now
III pOsiIlOu 10 10 IL II lllc Sblihc
with such unanimity begins on April l, within
a month nearly everything will be at standst1ll
in the United States.
II is reported that there is only two weeks
supply of soft coal in stock. The twenty-five or
thirty millions OF tons of anthracite expected 10
be accumulated by April would carry the indus
tries of the country only a short way. Produc-
ton would be limited TO the non-union mines of
West Virginia and to districts where the strike
order was imperfectly effective. The price Of such
coal as reached the market would be wellnigh
prohibitive. The threatened strike would dwarf
by comparison that Of four years ago, which will
be long remembered for the losses and suffering
it caused. At that time bituminOus coal was be-
ing produced abundantly, and industries contin-
ued in operation. though the people suffered
from want of domestic fuel. Now industrial coal
is to be cut off, too. and in a few weeks. such is
the threat railroads must cease running, machin-
cry must stop turning and industries must come
TO standstill. In a word we are brought unpleas-
antly face TO face In all its essential details with
the menace Of general strike. In the hands of
the workmen of one industry is the means TO tie
UP all. No other group of wage earners, except,
perhaps, the employees of all the railroads Of
the country, has a similar power The general
strike is the great theoretical weapon Of the
socialists, their dernier resort the modern equiv
alent OF revolution IN these days. when the cost
Of machine guns makes the old fashioned ball
and powder revolution an impOsSibiity. 1t has
been talked of ACCIDENTALLY in the Reichstag and
the French Parliament. 1t has been tried in
Russia, but only the united effort of all work
ingmen. Here we are threatened with what. in
all it's essential results is a general strike, for
the benefit of only one industry and at the in
stance of a small group of leaders There is
little wonder that both sides content TO let
this threat work on the public for two months.
Peace may be expected, for such machinery of
industrial warfare is getting too destructive to
use. II is reaching a stage analogous TO that
often predicted of the enginery of military war
fare