The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-22
IN~.rHs ANTHhAc1FE~FfBbDs
Statement OF the situation by an hde-
pendent Operator.

Statement OF M Situation by an tnue'
pendent Operator.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-SiT: ! wonder
II tho public can now see and realize the
present true status of the strike situation III
the anthracite coal fields? There are no"
four parties to the issue, though before nam nam
ing them IL may be we'll to ask the reader 70
remember that while negotiations were PEN
ing for q settlement John Mitchen oruereuo
strike, thus, to the utmost Of his ability oe-
privine the public Of getting coal.
1t Is said the operators we're Riau W
have their men ordered out on Aprn l, III
order TO get rid OF their surplus coal. Mr.
Mitchell knows better. and he Is not oolhB
anything Ito please the corporations ouV
what a mighty TO- would have gone up
from Mitchell and company and the puono
had the CORPORATIONS turned their men out
at that time. As Mr.. Mitchell did 1t we near
no word Of condemnation Consistency
thou art q jewel"
Now az to these four parties. First come
the operators, who. with millions invested
In their mines. believe 1t their right TO operate
them, and to control and manage their ousl-
ness without dictation CT interference from
any union. union mob or other outsider
Secondly. the public. who want coal. want
Il cheap, and yet have been yelling Settle
settle, settle, even on John Mitchells terms
though it does raise the price a dollar OF
more a ton, " but who will yell the other way,
and yell Justify, should they have hat extra
price TO pay. And the operators. fully real
izine that these results must follow tn'r
yieldl-g to the 1 ordinate, unwarranted'
and "a most respects preposte rous vi lion
demands, have consistently stood like a
rock against them, not alone Tor their own
salvation, but for the interests and protec-
tion Of the public, for which the public Will
In due time say a loud amen.
Thirdly, the mine workers. They are III
terested only and exclusively In the matter
OF wages, the amount of money they can seI
for their labor. This question Mr.. MitcheH
asked to have arbitrated. to which the oper-
ators have assented. and both parties have
| agreed as to who shall be the arbitrators.
This being the case, the strike. In Justice 10
the public and the mine workers. should De
declared of and the men allowed 20 return
to work.
Here comes in the fourth party: This is
| John Mitchell and other union leaders, VINO
| now seem to have lost all sight Of the inter-
! ests OF the mine workers ard Of the public,
and TO be only asking Themselves. Well,
| where do we come in?" Therefore, to make
sure of getting the dough flor what use
and purpose let the public judge) they de-
mand that at every mine there shau DO
deducted and collected monthly. from the
mine workers wages. all union dues and
| d6Bt65IlCHIDt dIt w pny NAS
lected over to the person or persons empow-
cred to receive them'-who would be union
| officers or leaders. OF course-and they are
now standing out against calling of the strike
or making any settlement, unless this last
named demand is compiled with.
This demand can only be compared to two
nations at enmity, and preparing for war.
when one says to the other: Well, before
goina into this fight you have got to put up
the money to pay and feed our soldiers. and
to buy ships, guns and ammunition for us TO
fight you with" Well, this the operators have
eidetracked with a positive No" and with
the added declaration that not as a matter
Of policy, nor under any circumstances. VIII
they grant It. Likewise 10 Mr.. Mitchell as
positively assured that no agreement with
any union will ever be made, as also that none
other Of their present propositions for settle
ment will ever be modified.
A few words on one other point: MIR.
Mitchell demanded at first that any contract
made now should terminate April l.. 1864
Presidential election year. The object OF
this was 80 plain to the public eye and
so quickly condemned that he changed IT to
terminate April l. 1907. What! Monkey
with that buzz saw and disturb business
three or four months in every twelve9 VIII
the public stand for this!
The strike commission settled everything
three years ago most favorably for the mine
workers, and since then, as MT Mltcheil mas
repeatedly declared, they have prospered
az never before. And as this same award
is offered them for another three years. why
can't the public reverse it's yell against the
operators and start q little earthquake demand
upon Mr.. Mitchell to accept that good offer
and end his strike and all Its concomitants
Indeed. II should not be considered beneath
the dignity of our Chief Magistrate 80 TO
advise Mr.. Mitchell.
win Mr.. Mitchell bend to the inevitable OF
will he continue the strike and finally break
1t might not be amiss to remind him OF his
friend Lynett's editorial Of February 2 last
in the Scrdnton Times: zone thing, said he,
lis certain, that II a strike ia precipitated the
corporations may be depended upon to fight
until they win: which is absolutely true.
This is no overdrawn statement of the situS-
ton, and a great majority of the mine work
ers and the intelligent thinking public are not
blaming the operators for the stand they
have taken. l. 0.
SCRANTON. Pa, April 20.