New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-13
MANUFACTURING A STRIKE.

The more closely conditions in the coal indus
try are studied the less substantial appears lhe
menace OF n general strike We pointed out
on Sunday that no real crisis existed IN ellher
the anthracite or the bituminOus field. Inc OH
ferences between the operators and the miners
are not material enough 10 justify a rupture
The dispute between the United Mine Workers
and the operating organizations in the SOFT ana
hard coal districts is largely a play for posi-
ton Mr.. Mitchell. the president of the union,
wishes 10 ylndicate his policy by tying up the
anthracite and bituminous miners in hard
and fast alliance. with common treasury and
a common programme OF offence and defence.
To cement this consolidation he must show
or try 10 Show-that the two divisions OF work
ers can merge their interests and promote their
fortunes better by pooling their demands than
by segregating them and fitting them TO condi-
tions as they exist in the two branches of the
coal industry. Mr.. Mitchell must prove-if he
can-that the joint procedure he proposes is
more efficacious than the old method of sepa-
rate negotiation Hence his willingness 10
aggerate the points at issue and 10 encourage
the belief that a strike must come if the op-
orators deny him the concessions he needs TO
vindicate his policy a leader
1t may be that in the end the operators will
make a few concessiOns-enOugh, perhaps, 10
save Mr.. Mitchelrs face and so avoid an Ill
timed, costly ana irritating SCr1ke. But MI.
Mitchell seems 10 be playing a reckless and
dangerous game in riskng the enormous bene-
fits which the miners enjoy under the present
agreements merely 10 Justify his theory of
solidation. President Dolan of Btuminous Dis
uct No. 3 laid finger the chief fault in
Mr.. Mitchells programme when he said at
Pittsburg on Sunday that the theory of Joint
action had been pushed 10 ridiculous" lengths
by the recent miners congress held at Indian
apolis. With Mr.. Mtchell's approval a resolu-
ton was passed by that congress declaring
that no agreement for the next contract term
made by any district should be binding with
out the approval Of all the other districts. This
is a revival of the old Polish system of indi-
vidual veto-a system which can lead only TO
deadlock and anarchy. 1t is from any practi-
cal point of view nonsensical that the miners
Of hard coal in the Scranton district of Penn
sylYRnia or the miners Of soft coal in the Hook
ing Valley district Of Ohio cannot come 10 an
agreement with the mine owners who employ
them without first submitting that agreement
for approval 10 the miners of British Columbia.
Under the resolution any little outlying district
has the power TO stop coal mining by union
minersl all over the United States until its own
local demands satisfied by operators in
no way associated with or amenabe TO the great
mass of employers against whom retaliation is
10 he attempted.
Mr.. Mitchell must that he is trying to
apply hazardous and unworka Bile Drinciple
Common sense would seem TO demand that min
ing agreements should be based on the condi-
uons actually obtaining in each district-or at
least in each branch OF the coal Industry The
situation in the anthracite field is. on the whole.
satisfactory to both the operators and the miners
In the bituminOus field there are more serious
diherences-but differences which can be readily
compromised. What is wanted in each field is
disposition 10 deal intellgenty and with
moderation. instead of insisting on personal
policies and abstract theories of organization.
If needless extraneous issues are dropped-and
dropped promptly-there will be no strike