Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-05

strike story as had 1t from the lips
Of one of the most reliable and prom
inant mining men in the state
The United States TODAY is. therefore.
in the midst of this great industrial
crisis as a result of trade union politics,
And ] am told that there are more
politicians among the federation OF
miners officials than are to be found in
West Philadelphia. And that is saying
lot.
Dismissing the problem of when this
strike will terminate. the causes which
will compel it. If the finish comes within
short time, are already apparent.
They are the force of public opinion.
and the desire of labor leaders to avoid
the complete -discredit of union labor
in the eyes of the country.
The fiasco of the steel strike has been
a blow. To pile Pelion OH Ossa with
n disastrous coal strike would injure
the cause of unionism to an extent that
would require years for its recovery.
There is a confident feeling among
the operators whom | have met and
talked with in the Pittsburgh district
that the strike will be OF short Gura
ton. They base their belief on re
ports that come to them from their
''scouts." foremen. and loyal employees.
These bring them statements that the
miners are in more or less truculent
mood toward their local union leaders.
The rank and file we're not permitted to
vote on the advisability of calling the
strike. They have been making money
to an extent unknown before during the
last year. and they chafe at this en-
| forced idleness. while the nonunion
miners are adding to the size of their
| bank accounts.
Miners Saving Deposits
| have had the opportunity within
! the last twenty four hours of examining
| the comparative figures of number OF
banks and trust companies in the matter
of miners savings. They are banking
institutions in the heart of the btu
minous districts. The figures of miners
savings accounts for 1919, as compared
with those of 1915. are a revelation.
In some reports the savings deposits
have increased 200 per cent. One bank
in the Monongahcla valley shows an in =
crease from 81 100000 in 1915 to
3.000.0 900 and over in 1910. And this
in addition to hundreds of thousands OF
dollars that the banks report have been
sent out of the country to Italy. Hun
gary, Croatia, and the other Slay
states.
As u matter of fact coal miners are
not n very thrifty and saving class OF
workers. This showing of their bank
savings, however, does not include The
Liberty bonds owned by them. and they
were liberal purchasers of bonds dur.
ing the war, according to mine officials
and operators.
To many miners this strike periot
comes as a holiday. Entering th
Union Station this morning l met
party of them, twenty or so, just of
| the train and in tine city for holi
day. Every one, except a couple of oil
linen collar. There wasn't cellulo
I. or "tin' collar in the bunch. One o
two had their trousers creased. A
; wore fashionable ties. Perhaps half O
them were smoking what appeared t
be good cigars. AT least the size of tn
band--which is often gaudy an
Y ornamental lie-suggestcd quality.
Many Own Automobiles
All this is in line with statemen
from the vice president of coal cor
poration, who resides in Philadelphia
that the age old smoke of the Coz
, miners, the Pittsburgh 'stogie" is
= drug on the market in mining towns
The men say they want good" cigars
This same gentleman informed me this
the mine store at his operation is com
: PEELED to carry line of automobi
accessories because of the number {
: cars owned by the men in the mines
e One man in every six or seven owne
! an automobile.
! An unanswered question, on tn
: other side, is: What is the feeling {
/, mine owners when they see their ow
& mines closed tight and other operator
e running full speed ahead with non
e union labor and taking the cream {
the business at this time?