Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-04-10
COAL STRIKES COST
TREMENDOUS SUMS

vapia. # it occurs as the result OF
the present troubles, will he the
fourth general labor disturbance in
that industry in the last twelve
wears. I'm 1900 the miners struck
six weeks; IN 1902 they were out
Ave and a half months and IN TWO
they again suspended work Tor six
wccL, In the 1900 and 1902 strikes
the coal diggcrS through the Unit
ed Mine Workers Of America and
under the leadership Of John Nit
chcll. won victories by gaining an
increase in wages and readjust-
ment Of certain working conditions.
In neither struggle however. did
the organization obtain what 1t has
in some OF the bi,uminous fields
s,raigh,out recognition OF the union
have carried on negotiations as re
oi the men"
Prior TO the first big break in
1900 there were sporadic strikes,
but they did not grow 10 any pro
portion because the men were not
well organized One Of the most
serious OF these strikes was in 1907
at La,timer in the Lchigh region,
where in one clash between deputy
sheriffs and mine workers more
than twenty strikers were shot and
killed ft.
In the 1900 strike the union had
about 1000 anthracite men upon
its membership roll The mines in
the Wyoming, or northern coal
fields. shut down first and the strike
rapidly spread southwark until the
entire anthracite country was in
about $4,000 men , being
idle This strike came in year
when presidential election was
held and was settled in favor of the
men after much pressure had been
brought to bear upon the coal OPP
orators by Senator Mark Hanna, of
Ohio, who was then managing
President Mckinley's campaign for
a second term. A 10 per cent. adj
vance in wages was granted to all
classes OF mine workers.
The following year found the an
thracitc regions much disturbed by
labor troubles. While there was no
general movement. l02 separate
strikes were recorded during the
year
The 1902 strike, the greatest in
the history oi the country. was
hard fought. l, was remarkable for
the completeness OF the tie.up and
the losses incurred were enormous
The union asked for 20 per cent.
increase in wages, a reduction in
hours from 10 to day, coal TO
be weighed wherever practicable in
stead OF measured by the car, and
recognition of the union. The
strike lasted from May II TO DC.
tober q, Nearly I47 600 mine work
ers were idle and thousands of rail
road and other workers were thrown
out OF employment. The entire
National Guard Of PENNSYLVANIA.
about 10000 men. were called into
service before the struggle came to
an end.
President Roosevelt was instru.
mental in bringing the two sides
together and to agreeing to the an.
pointing Of the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission to arbitrate the
differences, The Commission visit
I'd many mines and examined $50
witnesses between October. 1902.
md February, 1908. 1t awarded a
W per cent. increase in wages IN
miners and reduced the hours Of
men who were paid by the day from
10 to . day. and made numerous
recommendations tending TO better
he working conditions of the men
u also created the board of con.
'il'a,ion, 10 which has been referred
nos, OF the grievances tina, hav.
risen since the CommiSs;o,'s
awards were made.
The Commission estimated N.
osses oeeasioned by tina, strike as
ollows:
Decrease in coal production. "a.
O4,4s2 tons.
Decrease in receipts OF coal com.
'anies, S46,l0OOOO.
Wages lost by men, $2s.0OOoo
Miners relief fund, sl,soOOO0
decrease in coal freight rates
'
These figures show loss -,
more than SlO0,O00.OO0. Reside
his there were losses sustained b.,
he railroad workers and emplove..
n other industries and there was a