Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-14
IN LABOR CIRCLES
13E.. :, FED

| All considerations in the field of labor
| have been overshadowed for the time by
| the prospective great strike of the coal
| miners, which is anticipated to occur soon
! after April 1 next. when the present agree
| ment between the coal operators and min
| ers will expire. 1t is the opinion of labor
| leaders that unless the operators and the
| officers of the United Mine Workers of
| America can soon agree upon a wage scale
satisfactory to both sides. All Fools day
| will witness the Inauguration of a contest
between capital and labor in the light of
| which all previous great strikes will pale.
The predicted walk-out will, 1t is said.
involve 100000 miners. OF this great army
of toilers 100000 are members of the United
Mine Workers organization, and 1t is the
expectation that fully 100000 unorganized
men will go out with them. The miners
have already begun preparations for the
big battle as 1t is proposed to raise a
strike fund of 100000 between now and
April.
At the Indianapolis conference the rep
resentatives of the miners contended for a
restoration of the cut Of 555 per cent I'M
posed two years ago by the coal strike
commission appointed by President Roose-
welt to bring about a settlement of the last
great coal strike. This the operators re-
fused to grant and negotiations were broken
off.
IHSLSII4iIS " tIlc Strike, Dan
Wolf Memphis labor leader and writer
says:
when one stops to consider what this
monster strike VIII mean 10 all lines of in
dustry, 1t would seem almost q national
calamity is imminent. The half million men
who will be idle when the strike order goes
into effect will not be the only ones affected
Hundreds of thousands of skilled workmen
In the great factories dependent upon the
coal mines of the affected districts within q
short time after the cessation OF work in
the mines will be thrown out of work be-
cause shortage of tho coal supply will
cause a shutdown. There is a possibility
that some of the railroads which do not
own mines will have to take off some of
their trains because of a lack of fuel for the
engines. The great steamship lines If the
strike is of any length of duration would
certainly feel the need of more COAL and If
the United States government should be-
come embrotled in a foreign war, its navy
would be rendered practically useless be-
cause there would not be enough coal To
keep the bunkers of these monster fighting
machines filled.
1.-The great railroad systems which own
the mines have been for months preparing
for the coming struggle with its miners
Millions of tons of coal have been stored
by them for use when the inevitable strike
comes, as they knew the miners would in
sist on restoration of the old wage scale
at least, when the award of the commission
expires on the first of next April, scarcely
two months away.
Inc miners are not ASKING rOr more than
they entitled to. They feel that they
should receive their share Of the general
prosperity which the country has been en-
joying for the PAST two years, and the in
crease in wages asked is only an average of
800 per cent, together with recognition of
the union. This is the scale that prevailed
at the time of the great strike of two years
ago."
president of the United Mine Workers
that the responsibility of bringing on such
a strike was grave responsibility for any
people. We have been slow TO assume any
such responsibility and the responsibility
rests, as one can see. on the operators. The
prosperous condition of the country war
rants an increase for the miners. We ac-
cepted a decrease by our own votes two
years ago. when at the time we were con-
WINGED that the conditions of the country
demanded 1t. We have ever been ready to
stand right. and we stand right now"
Simon Burns general master workman of
the Knights of Labor. has issued an inter-
esting statement on the coal miners trou-
bles. The quarrel in the Pittsburg district is
taken up by Mr.. Burns and commented on.
Mr.. Burns Is president of Local Assembly
No. 300 composed of window glass work.
ers, and is one of the most conservative la
Dor leaders In the country
President Burns has had years Of expert
ence in internal fights and says they are
rufnous to organized labor. He cautions
the miners to act conservatively and pays
a compliment to Patrick Dolan. He criticlses
union labor for asking concessions they
frequently know are unfair and never hope
to receive. He further says that the officials
OF unions too often rely upon disfnierested
parties to adjust their squabbies.
Mr.. Burns statement In part follows.
THE coal miners troubles are matters of
interest to the public at this time While
there are few people who believe the miners
are as well paid as they should be, the large
majority of people OF this country are of
the Arm opinion that the coal miner Is the
poorest paid man that works for r. living