Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-03-10

IHlldutlpnld, req IL.
The possibility. II not the proba-
bllity, that more than 100000 coal
mine workers, having dependent upon
them directly for their support more
than 100000 people, will on April
go out on a strike, presents such an
alarming situation as to direct toward
1t the attention of the entire nation.
Such prospect, threatening the very
foundation Of the countrys industrial
activities, has never before confronted
the people Of the United States.
Pennsylvania. in particular. being
the most important OF the thirty-one
al-producing States and Territories,
is most vitality concerned. II employs
a total Of more than POI 900 coalmine
workers, which last year produced over
170,000.000 short tons Of both soft and
hard coal, with spot value Of nearly
1926. 100000. The amount Of capital
invested In this industry in this one
State is so enormous in the aggregate
as to be estimated 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 in
Guiding the thousands of cities located
between the seaboard and the ALLIE
gheny mountains. The reader can read
lily imagine some of the more import
ant consequences to the industrial.
commercial. business and social life
resulting from suspension of 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 indus
trial struggle involving both the an
thracite and bituminous fields of the
State, as well as adjoining coal fields.
NO COAL. NO COMMERCE.
Probably the most direful POSSIBLE
fly Is that within two months after
such strike is inaugurated practical
ly every ton OF coal now In storage will
have been exhausted, and the country's
industries 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 and i'm
pose peace upon the contending par
ing 10 their capacity In view OF the
threatened strike. not enough coal can
be produced. and there is not enough
In storage to prevent a sudden rise In
price soon after. II not before, definite
knowledge is had OF strike being In
nugurated. Without coal the railroads
and STEAMBOATS, and electric railways
cannot he operated, and factories and
mills cannot produce their particular
commodities, resulting in the wheels
OF commerce being brought to a stand
still.
HOPE FOR AGREEMENT.
AS regards the situation in the an
thracite region of Pennsylvania. there
is still q probability that the secret
conference between representatives OF
the hard coal-carrying roads and their
employees, will find way out. and
thus prevent another industrial strug-
gle 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 ap.
pointed by President Roosevelt to set
tie the strike In 1902. is to expire.
With its expiration goes the board OF
of Cancellation, which the award OF
that commission created and which
has for the past three years success
fully settled the differences arising
between the mine-workers and their
employers. II this conference fails 10
| reach an agreement as to the wages
which are TO prevail In the industry
] after April /, we will have presented
4 in the anthracite region somewhat the
} same situation that now confrOnts the
1 bituminous coal Industry of the coun-
] try. The relative Significance which
the anthracite Industry presents Is in
| dicated by the fact that the total pro-
D duction OF hard coal exceeds $4,000 ,0O0
1 short tons. with spot value of near
\ Ily $40, 900, 900. and in that industry
4 are employed more than $4,000 mine
4 workers.
} UNION HAS FULL TREASURY
The present unsettled condition In
the soft coal industry has been
brought about as result OF what
seems to be breaking down OF the
Interstate joint conference machinery
which was re-establshed in what is
known as the central competitive soft
coal territory following the strike In
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia,
western Pennsylvania and adjoining
States in 1897. The strike at that
time which was the last important
one affecting the central competitive
territory, involved 100000 mine work
ers for six weeks. II was conducted
to a partly successful termination by
the United Mine Workers OF America.
with total membership OF less than
10000 and with what was practically
a bankrupt treasury. Today the same
organization has paid-up membership
exceeding 100000, and with defense
fund OF nearly s3,OOO,OOO. The inter
state Joint conference has also failed