Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-04

Southern States. 3.5S per cent
Dominion OF Canada, 3.s2 per
cent.
Foreign ports, .0G per cent
Philadelphia, March 2S.--The suspen-
sion of coal mining In the anthracite
regions of Pennsylvania, II II occurs
as the result of the present troubles,
Will be the fourth general labor dis
turbance in that industry in the last
10 years. In 1900 the miners struck
six weeks; in 1902 they were out five
and half months and In 1906 thew
again suspended work for six weeks
In the 1900 and 1902 strikes the coal
digEers. through the United Nine
Workers of America and under the
leadership of John Mitchell, won VIC
tories by gaining an increase in wages
ana n reodjustment of certain work
ing conditions. In neither struggle
however, did the organization obtain
what 1t has in some Of the bituminous
fields straighout recognition of the
union, although the officers of the
union have carried on negotiations as
'represe natives of the men,"
Prior TO the first big break in 1900
there were sporadic strikes but they
did not grow to any proportion be-
cause the men were not well organized.
one of the most serious of these
strikes was in 1897 at Lattimer in the
i.ehigh region, where in one clash be-
tween deputy sherlffs and mine work.
ers more than 90 strikers were shot
and killed.
In the 1900 strike the union had
about 1000 anthracite men upon rts
membership roll. The mines in the
Wyoming. or northern coal field. shut
down first and the strike rapidly
spread southwark until the entire an
thracite country was involved. about
| $4,000 mon being idle. This strike
came in a year when a presidential
election was held and was settled In
favor OF the men after much pressure
had been brought to bear upon the
coal operators by Senator Mark Hanna
! OF Ohio, who was then managing Pres
ident McKinley's campaign for q sec
ond term. \ 10 per cont advance in
wages was granted to all classes Of
mine workers.
OVER 100 STRIKES IN 1901.
The following year found the anthra-
cite regions much disturbed by labor
trouhles While there was no general
NOV ement, lo2 separate strikes we're re-
corded during the year.
The 1902 strike. the greatest IN the his.
tory OF tho country. was hard fought, II
was remarkable for the completeness Of
~ <hA Inn,
enormous. The union asked for 20 per
hours from 10 TO eight n day coal to be
weighed Wherever practicable instead Of
measured by the car. and recognition OF
tho union. Tho strike lasted from May
p to October o. Nearly 1t7,ooO mine work.
crs were idle and thousands Of railroad
and other workers were thrown out Of
employment. The entire National Guard
OF Pennsylvania. about 1000 men, were
called into service before the struggle
came to an end
President Roosevelt was instrumental
IN bringing the TWO sides together and
to agreeing to the appointing Of the an
thracite coal strike commission to arbi-
| trate the differences. The commission Wis
| tied many mines and examined 66S wit
nesses between October, 1efe, and Fobru-
airy, 1903 It awarded 10 per cent. In
crease IN wages to miners and reduced
the hours OF men. who were paid by the
day from 10 to nine u day, and made
numerous recommendations tending to
better the working conditions Of the men.
1t also created the board Of conoiliation.
to which has been referred most Of the
grievances that have arisen since the
commissions awards were made.
LOSSES DUE TO THE STRIKE.
Tho commission estimated the losses
occas!oned by that strike ms follows:
Decrease In coal production. 24eO4. +sc
tons.
Decrease IN receipts OF coal companies.
80 10000,
Wages lost by mon. se5, ooo.nno,
Miners relief fund. Sl.soO.0D
Decrease in coal freight rates. s2s,-
90
These figures show a loss of more than
10000 900. Besides this there were losses
sustained by the railroad workers and
employees in other Industries and there
was a general paralysis In business In a
PROSPEROUS section OF the State
The award of the strike commisso
remained In force for three years until
1906 when II was renewed for another
pcrioi Of three years after the miners
had suspended work for about six weeks
When this agreement expired on March 81.
1909 Il new president OF the miners union,
| Il. l.. Lewis took up the negotiations for
| the men. THIS time the miners did not
stop after the compact had expired. but