The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-15
In the Anthracite Field.

states.
In the Anthracite Field.
The consequences of a protracted
strike in the anthracite field are ire
mendous and come home immediate
ly-sometimes tragically-to the poor
and to the rich Coal at $3.50
ton and more-perhaps so ton
if bought in SSlall quantities and
from INSCRIPTIONS retailers-is prob
lem enough for the man Of small
wages and large family, but coal at
$15 and $50 ton and hard to get is
apt to mean suffering and loss of life.
Other results of a walkout which
lasts for long time are the great loss
es to other industries, affecting as it
does the volume of business in a half
dozen different businesses. Official es-
Inmates of the losses to the miners in
wages between May II. 1902, to Oct.
% of the same year place the figure
at S25,000,0O0. The decrease in re-
ceipts Of the coal companies indicated
loss to them of SAG, 100000. Because
Of the decrease in shipments from the
mines the railroads lost some S2S,O00,-
600 gross in freight revenues. The sum
of S2,OO0,000 was expended by the
miners union in relief work among
the strikers.
In case a strike appears to be immt-
nent following the conference of the
mine workers and operators represent
atives the immediate steps to be TAX
en- will be added efforts by the COM
! panies for the further storing Of coal
before April 1 and perhaps the cree
ton of stockades around the collieries.
The state Of Pennsylvania will see to
1t that the present troop districts for
the assignment of the Pennsylvania
mounted constabulary will be rear
ranged into smaller patrols for the bet
ter protection of life and property.
The mine workers for their part will
commence the collection OF a strike
fund, or rather the augmentation of
the fund already in hand, and will
work desperately to strengthen their
organization in the anthracite fields in
preparation for the struggle.
| To understand the present status OF
affairs it is necessary to review briefly
the history of the anthracite field since
the strike Of 1902.
| The immediate issue is whether the
| award of the anthracite strike commits
I sion appointed by President Roosevelt
to settle the long strike of ten years
ago is to be continued for another
/ three year period. Twice since the
| first award the agreement has come up
between the operators and the miners
in 1906 and again in 1909. The agree
ment was extended, although there
was a suspension of work for period
] Of several weeks in 1906. In 1909 the
Anthracite Miners union receded from
its position and abandoned its demands
upon the operators. Now the agree
ment comes up again after three years
Strike Commission of 1902,
Appointment of the anthracite Goa
strike commission was made by Presi
dent Roosevelt after the labor troubles
In the anthracite fields had gone from
bad to worse. the state of Pennsyl
vania had 10000 militia in the field
and violence and disorder were fire.
quent. The members of the commits
sion were Judge George Grey, chair
man; Brigadier General John M. viii
son, f. W. Parker, e. L. Clark, Thorn
as A. Watkins, Colonel Carroll ID
Wright and Bishop John L. Spalding
Demands made upon the operators
by the miners put before the boarC
were four in number-O an advance
of 20 per cent upon the prices paid IL
1901 to employees performing contrac
or piece work, (2) reduction Of 20 pc
cent in hours of labor without any re
duction in wages for all employees
working by the hour. day or week, q
the payment Of contract miners b!
weight and ~ agreement between tn
companies and the United Mine Work
ers of America.
Investigation carried on by the com
mission covered four months time, ant
examination WAS made of all the fac