The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
The Miners Strike.

~ HE coal miners strike began last night. Inc
j efforts of the miners and the operators to
reach an agreement were prolonged and apparently
sincere The operators refused, except in few
cases. to yield to the demands of the miners and the
miners in no case modified their demands
At the same time, this strike situation does not
seem to be as threatening and serious as the wide
difference between the miners and the operators and
the large number of men involved might lndlcate.
The fact that some of the operators have agreed to
paw the scale demanded by the miners shows that the
operators are not standing soidly together, while
the fact that approximately 100000 miners affected
are not organized suggests that the miners may not
be able control the output sufficiently to WIN their
strike Perhaps it is for these reasons that the in
dustrial world does not to have viewed the ap-
preaching clash between employer and employee IN
the coal mines of the country with as much appre-
hension as would naturally be felt II there were a
graver prospect for prolonged contest
Another fact which probably influences the pub
lie feeling in the matter is the welknown DISPOSE
ton of the president to the powers OF his great
office for the protection Of the public interest The
public has not forgotten the intervention OF the
president in the anthracite strike and the great SER
vice which he rendered to the country in that con-
nection and looks to him for protection against Sc
rous harm from the strike He has not, in the pres
ent instance exhibited any disposition to Intervene
Apparently he does not think the time has arrived
for any action his part But the exceedingly IN
teresting statement published in The ournal
yesterday from the Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Tribune explains in degree the feeling
that somehow the dispute between the miners and
their employers will not lead to serious harm to the
general public That statement was to the effect
that if the miners and their employers in the anthra
cite fields had not agreed when they quarreed four
wears ago, to accept the verdict Of his proposed
commission, the president ready to take charge
of the anthracite mines with the army of the United
States put General Schofeld in command, employ
as many men as required, pay them reasonable
wages mine the coal, sell it and turn the pro-
ceeds to the owners of the mines-on the principle
that such necessary to furnish the pub
lie necessity Of life which nature has provided but
which private parties have seized control OF and are
not supplying to the public because of quarrel
among themselves. ...E
The occasion for such action may come. 1t
would be an unprecedented exercise Of the executive
+ authority and yet do not believe it would be one
which would meet with popular disfavor. In certain
quarters Of course it would be condemned It would
even be denounced as revolutionary, but it would
protect the public from loss and suffering and to the
extent at least, that the output Of the mines was
necessary for the use Of the government, especially
in the supplying Of it's navy, the distribution of the
mails etc. such action could not be called in ques
ton >-..,t - 80 - &*.&