The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-12-28

disorganized and abject condition of
the anthracite miners, he had sent his
deputies to evangeliae the field. The
miners listened respectfully, but held
aloof. They had had many bitter ex-
periences with labor unions. They We're
willing to give their support to any
movement for better conditions. but
would not ally themselves with the or
ganization.
The Great Strike Of 1900.
It is Mr. Mitchelrs own testimony
that when the great strike was called,
the union in the anthracite field did
not have more than eight thousand
members. The operators, mistaking
the temper of the workers, def1ed the
union. contemptuous]y declined to treat
with it, refused all demands, and told
the organization to do it's worst. When
the strike was called on April 1, one
hundred and ten thousand men laid
down their tools, and by the end Of the
struggle, in November, one hundred and
thirty thousand men had Joined the
ranks of the strikers. Under the in
fuence of J. Pierpont Morgan and
Mark Hanna, the operators agreed to
make some concessions, just on the eve
Of the presidential election. The union
was ignored, but all the companies
posted notices Of q. ten per cent. adj
vance i'll wages. and the reduction Of
the price of powder from $3.50 a keg
to s1.50. The miners accepted the
terms and went back to work.
Then the companies proceeded to
twist the terms to suit themselves. The
ten per cent raise was ruled to apply
only to those who We're paid by the
i day or month. The miners paid
by weight Of coal taken out We're to
get nothing but the reduction in the
price of powder, which they could buy
permitted to do SO by the companies.
Another compromise was arranged,
whereby the miners got a two and a
half per cont advance on the, coal
mined. .
The Object Of the Coal Operators.
rhis agreement stood for two years,
and i'll 1902 came the great struggle
greater than that of 1900. because both
sides were more determined, better or
Ranized and had prepared for the fight.
The operators were free in their adj
missions that they courted a strike, as
i they hoped to destroy the union. The
union demands were briefly for an
eight-hour day, uniform wage scale,
pay by weight instead Of by the car,
which might mean anything from 2,700
7, to $500 pounds, and the recognition
Of the union in a general agreement.
! At first the public viewed the union
with suspicion. 1t seemed as If there
was to be an interminable complica-
ton growing out of successive de-
nands. Wasn't the ten per cent. raise
in 1900 sufficient? was asked The
operators, under the direction of Pres
! ident George F. Baer, of the Reading
/ absolutely refused to treat with the
union or it's representatives.
1t was now that Mr.. Mitchclrs genius
showed supreme. In the 1900 strike
the gross and palpable injustice of the
powder extortion alone had won the
support of the public for the miners
Now Mr.. Mitchell faced delicate
question, and he mastered it with su-
perb tact. First he showed the public
that the ten per cent. raise in 1900 was
a delusion, that the cost of living had
been advanced to the miners 40 pei
cent. in the meantime, and that large
coal. To the statement that the union
breeds strikes, Mr.. Mitchell replied that
there are more petty, annoying strikes
where the union is not supreme than
where it is, and that if the operators
would recognize the union. the organi-
zation would see to it that the mer
| WOulu uV6 up W IEou deIScIIieitLSS dllO
that there would be no strikes. Mr.
Baer was obdurate, and at this time
gave expression to his notorious "di-
vine right" doctrine.
A Series Of MasterfuI Retreats.
Then Mr.. Mitchell began that series
Of masterful retreats which seemed like
a succession Of defeats, each Of which
left the vanqushed in a. stronger posi-
ton. One after another the demands
We're withdrawn, and the offer Of a set
tlement made on what were left. FL.
nslly the miners position was stripped
bare. All they asked was that tht
operators get together and make an ef.
fort at conciliation. The operators
were still proudly Indifferent. Mr.
Mitchell offered to leave the question.
to the arbitration Of the Civic Fedora
ton, body largely composed of CAPT