The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-31
Coal Strikes
 Of The Past
Last One Occurred In 1919 w h e n 395, 900 Soft Coal M 1 n e r S Walked Out, Later Re- ceiving Greatest Single Increase Known.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 2S-(By the Associated Press)-Great coal strikes, such as the country is now facing, have been few although for seventy-five years the coal industry had been marked by almost number less statewide and localized strikes, often involving several thousands of workers. All of the big strikes have continued more than a. month, the longest having been that of 1902 in dnued 23 weeks.
 The big strikes-five in number are summarized as follows:
 1s94-FIrst general strike in the soft coal industry, called by the United Mine Workers of America, the purpose being to restore wage scales that had been decreased dur ing the panic of '93: 100000 to 16o, 900 men engaged and militia called out in four states; first attempt at a compromise failed, but second con ed with adoption of 8 scale agree ment.
 1Ss7-July 4th walkout of 1900 miners. called by D. NJ. Ratchford deplete an over-stocked coal market which union officials feared would result in wage reductions on account of the slow coal trade; strike was called off after 12 weeks duration, at the end of which the market had been depleted; first great successful strike Of the U- M. w. or A.
 190O-Anthracite strike in Septem- Der and October, engaged 132, 1000 and ended with miners getting 10 to 16 per cent increases in wages
 1902-Great anthracite strike, led by the late John Mitchell, as pres dent of the U. M. w. Of A. lasted when President Roosevelt appointed 2S weeks, May to October; 140,OoO a commission that afterward gave the miners a 10 per cent wage ad- vance, and made their contract for three years, ending April 1, 1908.
 1919-Nation-wide soft coal strike in November and December of 395,- 900 miners called off by union in obtained by Attorney General Pal mer under the wartime Lever fuel control law; commission later ap- pointed by President Wilson gave 27 per cent in wages-their largest single increase.
 Unlike the last great strike the Impending one begins & with warm warm shutdown came with winter. Stocks now are more ample than then, but the present situation is much like the Fourth of July walkout of 1897. Out of the strikes. both large and small, the workers as a general prop osibion have won many benefits in in creased wages and improved working conditions But victory has not al- ways been theirs. though the big strike settlements have favored them. The operator successes, however. in clude wage reductions, denial of in creased wages. changed working con ditions, and the crushing of two tnions-the first national sorganiza ton of miners, founded in 1880, which erished in a series of strikes at the close of the Civil War, and the Workmen's Benevolent Association, an organization of anthracite work CTS, which was demolished in 1875 after 15 years existence.
 The first coal strike in the United States occurred in 1S49 in the Penn sylvania anthracite field when Brit fsh miner named Bates, organized a local union and sought to increase wages and better working conditions. 1 His strike failed and Bates was | forced to leave the field and for II l years the workers made no further 1 atteYnt at orga nization.
 Since Bates day, many leaders have been develoed among the work i CTS and strikes of various sorts for | varied purposes have been carried on, | the early fight being largely center l ed to small areas, occasionally in- clllding an entire state coal field.