The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-29
FIVE BIG STRIKES.
CONTINUED from Page IL

market had been depleted; first great
successful strike of the t. NJ w. of A.
l9Ou-Anthraeite strike in September
and October, engaged $4,000 and ended
with miners getting 10 to l6 percent in
creases IN wages.
MitchelPs Big Strike.
l902-Great anthracite strike. led by
the late John Mitchell as president of
the Y. NJ. w. of A, lasted % weeks, MAY
TO October: 10000 men engaged, and
finally called off when President Roose
welt appointed a commission that after
ward gave the miners a 10 per cent wage
advance, and made their contract 10
three years, ending April /. 1906.
l9I9.Nahon-wide soft coal strike in
November and December of 1896 900 min
ers called off By union in compliance
with court injunction, obtained b.
Attorney General Palmer under the war
time lever fuel control law; commission
later appointed by President Wilson
gave miners an increase of approximatel,-
q per cent IN wages-their largest singl
increase.
Present Conditions.
Unlike the last great strike, the i'm
pending one begins with warm weather
approaching while the 1919 shut down
came with winter. Stocks now are
more ample than then, but the present
situation IS much like the Fourth
July walkout of 1897. Out of the strikes
both large and small, the workers as
general proposition have won many bene
hts =, IN increased wages and improved
working conditions. But victory ha
not always been theirs, though the bi
strike settlements have forced them
The operator successes, however, include
wage reductions, denial of Increase
wages, changed working conditions, an
the crushing of two unions-the
hrst national organization of miners
founded IN 1860, which persisted in u
series of strikes at the close of the Civi
war. and the Workmen 5 Benevolent as
soclatlon, an organization of anthracite
workers. which was demoralized in 1875
after Is years existence.
The first coal strike in the United
States occurred in lS49 in the Pennsy
vania anthracite field when British
miner, named Bates, organized a local
better working conditions His strike
failed and Bates was forced to leave the
held and Tor ii years the workers made
no further attempt at organization.
Since Bates 5 day, many leaders have
been developed among the workers and
strikes of various sorts for varied pur-
poses have been carried on, the early
fight being LARGELY centered to small
areas, occasionally including an entire
tate coal field
Lewis's Fourth Battle.
As the leader in the impending nation /
wide coal strike. John L. Lewis, presi |
dent OF the United Mine Workers o |
America, will enter his fourth big indus |
trial conflict. Unless present indica
lions go awry, he will lead labor : larg /
est strike army in the history of the /
United States for the strike set 70 |
100000 workers scattered throughout T
the United States.
Conflicts between employers and work /
ers. In which Mr.. Lewis has stood OFT !
prominently, are these:
The 1919. soft coal strike of $500 /
miners, which was broken by the govern
ment. after which the miners got "a
cent ton increase in the wages, their
largest single pay advance.
The first attempt. made in l9l3-l4 to
,m'onize the steel industry, Mr.: Lewis
having charge of the field workers of I
the American federation of labor: ii ,
movement failed. according to union
men because OF widespread unemploy
ment.
The great copper strike in Upper
evils as general field agent of the
American federation of labor. assisted
in the general conduct of the strike.
Life Story
In brief. Mr.. Lewis : life story is one
Of a miner 5 son, born in an Iowa ham
ct, who has become the leader of one of I
he most powerful labor organizations
III tile WORM. lie was Dorm feD. II. lSSb
At. Lucas, Iowa, and after attending the
public schools entered the mines TO
work with his father. Later, he supple
mented his public school education with
courses of reading and study in special
zed subjects. particularly economies In
bis twenties. he Travelled extensively
through west and southwest states, en-
yaging in coal and metallifeTOus mining
He is married and has two children, a
son. age nine. and daughter. age two.
As president of the miner warkors
mion. Mr.. Lewis has for months past
been in disagreement with Alexander
Howat, who he deposed as president of
he Kansas district union. and Frank
on. the Illinois district presi-
lent who has championnd Howat' 3 side
In these controversies. Mr.. Lewis s Doli-
les have won approval whenever
>rouoht before the union 5 conventions.
rhe factional fight. however, is a latent
hroat of a rife in the unity of the min
'rs forces in event of the great strike.