davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

Practically all the strikes inaugurated
by this organization from 1898 to 1904
were for increases in wages and i'm
proved conditions of employment. Since
1904 most of it's strikes have been
directed against reductions in wages
and to prevent a return to former adj
verse conditions of employment. From
a defensive attitude for the past two
years, this trade union. is now taking
the offensive. That the organization
is capable of carrying on strikes upon
magnitude unheard of before in this
country, is indicated in the statement
that during the past four years it has
conducted no fewer than twenty-five
strikes in the various coal districts OF
the country of sufficient Importance to
demand relief from the union g treas
ury. For these four years these strikes
have cost the organization a grand to-
tai of nearly $3,500,O00. In 1902, 1884,
900 mine workers were on strike for
two months, and 100000 for five months
under the direction of this organiza-
ton. In the Meyersdale district Of
Pennsylvania some 1000 families have
been dependent upon the union for their.
support for nearly two years because Of
strike in that field. Since July, 1908,
about 5000 families of mine workers
in Alabama have been supported for
the greater part of this time thru union
relief, the expenditure of the United
Mine Workers Tor this purpose alone
in that state averaging $4,000 week.
In Colorado and Utah, for three months
in 1904, this organization expended an
average of $4,000 a week in the con.
duct of a strike. 20
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
WHAT THE IMPENDING CRISIS
IN THE COAL INDUSTRY MEANS
Strike Lockout April Would in Two Months Paralyze
the Entire Industrial Interests Of the Comtry-Some
Interesting Figures About the Union Forces

Is. : . " Z
mining operations such as is threatened.
The experience during and following
the five months strike of the anthracite
mine workers in 1902, which did not in
volve the soft coal employees Of the
state, is but slight indication of some
Of. the effects to follow an industrial
struggle involving both the anthracite
and bituminous fields Of the state, as
well as adjoining coal fields.
No Coal, No Commerce.
Probably the most direful possibility
is that Within two months after such a
strike is inaugurated practically every
ton of coal now in storage will have
been exhausted, and the country's in
dustries will find themselves without the
most essential means for carrying on
production But before that time has
arrived the public's necessities will
have become SO great that the govern
ment will be forced to interfere aud
impose peace upon the contending par
ties. While The coal mines are working
to their capacity in view of the threat
ened strike, not enough coal can be
produced, and there is not enough in
storage to prevent a sudden rise in
price soon after, if not before, definite
knowledge is had of strike being in
augurated. Without coal the railroads
and steamboats, and electric railways
cannot be operated, and factories and
mills cannot produce their particular
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

whole. It is perhaps needless to ex-
plain that it is China proper which is
rearranging itself today. The vassal
and tributary states which surround it
must follow as they are led.
Evenin this day Of maps the topogra-
ply Of China is not thoroly charted,
and surveys made by Jesuit missiona-
ries 200 years ago are still being used.
Vast mountain systems form natural
boundaries Of some Of the numerous
units Of the great empire, and have
served not only to isolate China, but to
of Babylon and Persia.
Ancient Babylon is now being discov-
cred by the archeologist. Ancient
China still exists. The mountains. Of
Tibet, rising like "a giant breakwater,
protected her from that tidewave: Of
western conquest which sealed the fate
Of the two ancient monarchies. To the
east the sea, in times. when navigation
was not so practicable, held her millions
in cheek. In the north are the hill dis
tricts Of Kokonor, the great Cobb desert
and the tablelands of Mongolia. The
southern barrier between China and
Tonkin and the Shan states consists Of
mountain ranges, fotohills.of the Him
alayas,3and plateaus.
Grew Without Rival
Owing to her impregnable position
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

to the prevalent misunderstanding Of
the Chinese character. While tie great
Christian peoples have been de1founcing
the Chinese for their ignorance, the,
densest want of knowledge of that race
has been in evidence among those who
have been loudest in their denunciation.
Never have a great people been
more misunderstood, says DR., Martin.
5. They are denounced as stolid, because
we are not in possession Of medium
sufficiently transparent to convey our
ideas to them or transmit theirs to us,
and stigmatized as barbarians because
we lack the breadth to comprehend
civilization different from our own.
They are represented as servile imita-
tors, tho they have borrowed less than
any other people; as destitute of the in
ventive faculty, tho the world is in
debted to them for a long catalog Of the
most useful discoveries; and as cling
ing with unquestioned tenacity to a
heritage Of traditions, tho they have
passed thru many and profound changes
in the course Of their history
To understand the Chinese position
and to grasp the full significance Of
the social and political evolution in the
celestial Kingdom, something of it's geo.
graphical position and % glance at a
few historical occurrences are necessary.
The Chinese empire comprises China
proper---the old Cathay-which has an
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

populous cities along the coast or not
far inland. The educated youth Of those
cities are leading the great movement.
The Chinese are proud people, and the
humiliation of seeing the western ma
tions boldly demanding and selling ter
ritory ostensibly for naval stations, but
really for exploitation, has given way
to indignation and ambition.
This manifestation first asserted it
self in the Boxer uprising; its latest
phase has been the boycott against
American goods and growing hatred
Of foreigners. Young China demands a
change Of conditions, and as the Man
chus, the ruling class, are an infnites-
imal part of the whole population, the
central government has found it neces-
! sary to placate the clamor in order to
preserve the dynasty from being over
| thrown.
One evidence of this is to be seen in
| the dispatch Of commission to tour
the world and bring back the latest
ideas in manufactures, industry and
| commerce. The demand has also been
made by the reform party in China for
reconstruction of the form of govern.
ment, constitution founded upon that
Of the United States being most in
favor.
For thousands Of years China has
from it's own resources fed and clothed
| to the western world, the "yellow
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. II. {

Ph1ladelpn1a, req. II. s
T HE possibility, if not the proba-
bility, that more than 100000
n coalmine workers, having depend
ent upon them directly for their sup
port more than 5000 900 people, will on
April l go out on a strike, presents such
an alarming situation as to direct to-
ward it sthe attention Of the entire ma
tion. Such a prospect, threatening the
very foundation Of the country's indus
trial activities, has never before con
fronted the people. Of the United States.
p Pennsylvania in particular, being The
most important of the thirty-one coal
producing states and territories, is most
vitality concerned. lit employs a totaIof
more than: 291,0o0 coalmine workers,
which last year produced over 100000
600 short tons Of both soft and hard
coal,, with a spot value of nearly $780,
10000. The amount ofscapital invested
In this industry in this one state is SO
enormous in the aggregate as to be esti-
mated in the hundreds of millions of
dollars. Philadelphia, and practically
all the other north Atlantic ports, draw
a large proportion of their coal supply
from this one state, not including the
thousands of cities located between the
seaboard and the Allegheny mountains.
The reader can readily imagine some Of
the more important consequences to the
industrial, commercial, business and Sc
cial life resulting from a suspension o:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
West Virginia. the Crux.

In attempting to determine the oper
ating cause of the present crisis in the
coal industry of the country, leaving
out of consideration the broad princi-
pies affecting it which are involved in
what is known as the trade union move
ment, it is possible to place the empha
SIS upon one particular economic factor.
Toward West Virginia the past decada
and more has been pouring a great
stream Of immigration owing largely to
The development of the industrial re-
sources of that state, and this has
flowed into the coal mining fields. Being
a cheap labor, those making up this i'm
migration stream have been working,
and continue to work, for, low wages.
AS the price Of labor is perhaps the
most dominant factor entering into the
price Of coal. this cheaper European
labor has enabled the West Virginia
coal operators to take their commodity
from the mines and send it to market
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

quated arms Of the old empire received
an epoch.making blow. Seventeen years
later China again attempted to expel
the western invaders instead Of conced-
ing points in dispute, and as a. result
the, Anglo French troops forced the en-
perors to flee his capital and routed his
armies. - , ~
Thus, it was half q century ago when.
China began to understand the char
acter Of the western nations. It was
the beginning Of the awakening, which
the events of: the last two years have
quickened into movement the outcome
Of which cannot be accurately foretold.
While it would be wrong to infer, as
is SO often done, that there is no such
thing as national mind in China, it is
true that the present renaissance is not
general thruout the empire. In other
words, there is not yet that unity Of
sentiment among the vast hordes in the
empire which is necessary for the sue
cessful issue of any great nationalist
movement
But China is an immense empire. It
has an: area equal to more. than one and
a half times that of Europe. China
proper is about one-half the size of the
United States without Alaska and the
island possessions, or about seven times
the size Of France. Communications
for the great part, are in the condition
they were thousand years ago. There
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
WHO GETS ISLANDS?
Interior Department to Decide Eurfen-
ing-Omaha Road Dispute.

Officials Of the interior department
at Washington are asked to decide the
ownership Of three small islands in the
Mississippi river at the mouth of Bas-
sett g creek near Sixth avenue n.
William Burfening of Minneapolis,
the son of an old settler, claims that
the islands were a part of the old Bur
fleming estate. The other party to the
dispute, the Omaha road, contends that
the islands are merely accretions from
the surrounding shore property, which
it owns. The decision of the depart
ment, which now has the question I'M
der advisement, will be final.
The river about the islands has been
filed in and is now occupied, with the
islands, blu the ShevIin lumber yards.
Judge Wilson, representing the Omaha
railroad, and b: M. Parker, represent,
ing Mr.. Burfening, have spent several
days this week arguing the question
before the department officials.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

at a lower price than the operators in
the central competitive territory are
able to do, because in this last mem
toned territory the United Mine Work
ers of America practically dominates
the labor supply, and is thus able to Sc
cure comparatively high wages for the
put forth tremendous efforts for the
past ten years to extend its jurisdiction
over the West Virginia mine workers,
in order to raise the price Of their labor
and, in consequence, increase the wages
of the mine worker. In these efforts
it has failed. AS long as the West Vir-
GINA operators and mine workers are
outside the unions control of labor, and
so long as the Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and western Pennsylvania operators
must pay the higher union wages, it is
plain, other things being equal, that
the West Virginia operators are able to
undersell their competitors. This nat
urally affects seriously the business of
the operators in the central competitive
territory, and this accounts largely for
the fact that operators in the middle
west are retiring from business, and
tldC tuSlT GOAL ullucS are USlhS tdhcu
over by large corporations.
Forced Reduction in 1904.
It was just this situation which
forced upon the mine workers of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and western Pennsyl-
vania the reduction in wages in 1904.
And it was the demand of the United
Mine Workers of America for restora-
ton of this .5h per cent reduction along
with an additional increase in wages of
Z per cent, which precipitated the pres
ent crisis. The operators at the con-
ference complained that they could no
longer remain in business and withstand
the competition of the lower wages paid
I by the West Virginia operators And
they reiterated their demand upon the
miners organization that before con-
ditions could be improved the union
would have to control the mine EN-.
ployees in West Virginia.
It is believed that the officials Of the
Mine Workers union believe that they
can force these improved conditions by
national strike. They are at least
determined that there shall be no more
reductions in wages.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

is Indicated by the fact that the total
production Of hard coal exceeds 73,000,-
900 short tons, with a spot value of
nearly $140,000,000, and in that indus.
try are employed more than $4,000
mine workers. .
Union Has Full Treasury.
The present Unsettled condition in
the soft coal industry has been brought
about as a result of what seems to be a
breaking down Of the interstate joint
conference machinery which was re-es-
tablished in what, is known as the CEN
trail competitive soft coal territory fol
lowing the strike in Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nois, West Virginia, western Pennsyl.
vania and adjoining states in 1897. The
strike at that time, which was the last
important one affecting The central COM
:petitive territory. Involved 100000
mine workers for six weeks. It was
conducted to a partly successful ter
mination by the United Mine Workers
Of America, with a. total membership
of less than 10000 and with what was
practically a bankrupt treasury. To
day the same organization has a paid
up membership exceeding 100000, ana
with defense fund Of nearly $3,000,-
600. The interstate joint conference
has also failed to come to an agreement
territory, including Missouri, Kansas
Arkansas, Indian Territory and. Texas
i'll which nearly 10000 mine workers
ere employed. In four or five other
states, Independent Of these joint con
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
Hope for Anthracite Agreement.

conmtIc0 DelHS UTougnI TO d SJanQ-
STILL
Hope for Anthracite Agreement.
As regards the situation in the an
thracite region of Pennsy lvania, there
is still a probability that the secret
conference between representatives Of
the hard coal-carrying roads and their
employees, which is to convene next
Thursday, will find a way out, and thus
prevent another industrial struggle in
those three fields. Some kind of an
agreement between them before April
/ is necessary, because on March 81
the award of the Anthracite Coal Strike
commission. which was appointed by
President Roosevelt to settle the strike
in 1902, is to expire. With its expira-
tion goes the board of Cancellation,
which the award of that commission
created, and which has for the past.
three years successfully settled the diff
ferences arising between the mine
workers and their employers. If this
conference: fails to reach an agreement
as to the wages and conditions of en-
ployment which are to prevail in the
industry after April l, we will have pre-
sented in the anthracite region some
what the same situation that now con-
fronts the bituminous coal industry of
the country The relative significance
which the anthracite industry presents
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
A NICE DISTINCTION.
Judge.

The traveller has finished his meal at
the village hotel. Removing his napkin
from his lap, he held it in hand while
he, inquired:
How big is this town.!
g About nine hundred, replied his
landlady, who was also assistant cook
and waitress. But why do you ask ? - -
Because. - answered the philosophi-
cal wanderer, 90 if town is less than q
thousand it IS customary to fold your
napkin. If more than that, it is proper
to muss the thing all you can and
throw it carelessly beside your plate. ;"
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

China grew up without rival. The
neighboring tribes, forming the fringes
of the empire, were duly impressed with
the power Of the empire and paid will
ing homage to the giant. These tribu-
taries China treated with condescend-
ing patronage and The disdainful con
tempt calculated to keep them in sub
lection. When the western nations be-
gan to knock at her door, China very
naturally judged them to be similar to
the tribes on her borders and assumed
toward them the tone Of superiority she
was accustomed to use. She even went
50 far as to denounce them as barbar-
ians and demanded tribute. Y:
This arrogant spirit precipitated the
opium war Of 1888, tin which. the anti
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
Production Restrained.

Production has purposely been re-
strained in China by governmental In
reference. Machinery was kept out
of the kingdom until recent years for
fear that untold millions might be rem
dered idle, and idleness breeds anarchy
and disorder. All this is now on the
eve Of being changed. Machinery will
undoubtedly be introduced, and when
and warmed itself. Everything the
Chinese required they were able to pro-
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

the total production Of coal by states,
the total number Of employees, the num-
Der Of these who are members Of the
United Mine Workers Of America, are
given in the following table: q
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

area Of about 100000 square miles, or !
little more than one-third Of the whole,
if 'Manchuria be still considered a part
of her territory; and four dependen-
cies, with an area Of 2,750,000 square
miles. While the total population of
China proper is about Ais 100000, that
of the dependencies is about 20,0oo,000
or about one-twenty second part Of the
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

are roads, which are not good except
ing where they parallel the Grand canal,
and the numerous waterways, some Of
them artificial. Excepting for about
five hundred miles in the north in the
province Of Chill, and also excepting
the Russian Manchurian railway.
China is without means of rapid trans
portation. News does not quickly reach
the interior, and, indeed, the interior Of
China is terra incognita even to those
who profess to be well informed.
Awakening in the Cities.
It is not in the interior that the
awakening manifests itself. but in the
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
zaxno1sQ RepMa1a1 OF lea1oks

peril,'' in short, is not political, not
withstanding the kaiser's CARTOON, but
economic.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

commodities, resulting in the wheels Of
commerce being brought to a stand
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-30
HER FEARS WE'RE REALIZED.
Aeronaut Thought She Would Be Hurt
and She Was.

Wichita, Kaso Aug, 29.-Mrs, Ma
mic Napier, an acronaut, while making
a balloon ascension and parachute
jump tonight fell 100 feet to the
ground and sustained injuries from
which it is believed she will die. Four
tines when ready for the ascent the
woman hesitated, saying that she
feared somethin was going to hap
pen, but finally gave the order to cut
the balloon loose. The parachute be.
came disconnected from the balloon
when about 100 feet in the air and
beth foil. Mrs. Napier whose husband
Is a helpless cripple from a similar ac-
acnt, was temporarily filling an en-
gagcment for j. {, I.apri who fell
and was injured while making a de
scent fom his balloon last week.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-30
Unnecessary Expense.

Acute attacks of collie and diarr.
hoea come on without warning and
prompt relief must be obtained. There
is no necessity Of incurring the ex.
penses of physicians ser
vice in such cases If Chamberlain
Collie, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy
is at hand A dose of this remedy "
relieve the patient before a doct
could arrive. 1t has never been kno1
To fail. even in the most severe a
dangerous cases and no family shou
be without It. For sale by F. ], Ram.
sey, w. 3. Frame, Ardmore Drug Co.,
Bonner & Bonner.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-30
FIGHTING BLOOD AROUSED.
Texans Want to Go to Cuba and Help
the Government.


Austin, Tex, Aug 29.-The call Of
President Palma Of the Cuban Repub-
lie for volunteers TO assist the Cuban
army in suppressng the insurrection
there has aroused the fighting blood
oi several of the officers Of the Texas
National Guard here, and it would not
take much persuasion to get some of
them to proceed to the island and help
in the suppression of the revolt
In fact, prominent officer OF the
Guard stated yesterday that he would
he perfectly willing to go if he could
raise a company of Texans to follow
him, but he did not relish the idea 81
having to command Cuban soldiers. Ii
the United States decides to take a
hand in the putting down of the re
bellion, Texas would be among the
first to offer the services of its sol.
diers to go to Cuba.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-30
ACCIDENTALLY KILLS HIMSELF
John p. Huekaby While Placing Rifle
in Hack Shoots Himself

Greenvile Tex. Aug. 29.-Johmn =.
Huckaby accidentally shot and killed
himself at his home two miles east
of town about o'clock this morning.
He had been killing snakes with a
22caliber rifle at pool near his
house. and while placing the gun in
his hack it was accidentally Dis
charged, the bullet entering the left
side and coming out just above tha
nipple on the right side He only lived
about fifteen minutes after the ac,l-
dent.
lie leaves a widow, three sons, J1nH,
who is In Colorado; Ben, VINO lives
nt Roxton, and Philip who is in tho
navy on the battleship Chattanooga,
aud two daughters, Mrs. ByToa Eos.
ter and Miss Pallic HuckIay De
ceased had lived at the home whore
h lost his life for the last thi - yeas
H. was 50 years of age and member
OF the Methodist church.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-30
DEATH IN RUNAWAY.
Young Girl sustains Fatal Injuries
While VISITING Friends.

Longview, Tex, Aug, 29.-Florence
Foster, the 15-yearold daughter of C.
A. Foster agent for the Texas and
Pacific and international and Great
Northern at this place, was thrown
from a buggy in Marshall yesterday
and sustained injuries from which she
died there today. Her remains were
brought here today to her home and