South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-29
IMPENDING COAL
STRIKE WILL BE
LONG STRUGGLE
Strikes of Great Magnitude
Have Been Few in Coun-
try's History.

Bv Associated Press.
i INDIANAPOLIS. March 2S.-Great
coal strikes, such as the country Is
now facing, have been few, although
I for 15 years the coal industry had
been marked by almost num5erless
statewide and localized strikes,
often involving several thousands OF
workers. All OF the big strikes have
continued more than month. the
+ LONGEST having been that Of 1902 in
I Tn the anthracite industry which
continued % weeks
The big strikes-hve 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
ling the panic OF 1898; 100000 to
II6O. 600 men engaged and militia
\ called out in four states; first at
tempt at a compromise failed. but
second conference OF miners ended
with adoption Of a scale agreement.
/ 1Sg7-July 4. walkout of 10000
miners, called by d. NJ. Ratchford,
president Of the L. NJ. W. Of A, to
deplete the overstocked coal market.
which union officials feared would
result in wage reductions on account
Of the slow coal trade; strike was
/ called after u weeks duration. at
the end Of which the market had
been depleted: first great successful
strike Of the L. NJ. W. OF A.
1900-Anthracit strike in Sep
tember and october, engaged 1872
600 and ended with miners getting
10 to 16 percent increase in wages.
19O2-Great anthracite strike. led
by John Mitchell as president of
the L. NJ. W. Of ~. lasted % weeks
May 20 October; 100000 men en-
gagged. and finally called off when
Prest Roosevelt appointed a COM
mission that afterward gave the
miners 10 percent wage advance,
and made their contract for three
years. ending APRIL 1, 1905.
1919-Nation-w wide soft coal strike
lin November and December Of $685.
600 miners called off by union in
compliance with a court injunction,
obtained by Attorney General Pal
mer under the wartime Lever fuel
cortroi law. commission later ap-
pointed by Pres't Wilson gave miners
an increase approximately Of q
percent in wages-their largest sin
gle increase.
Unlike the last great strike. the
impending one begins with warm
weather approaching, while the 1919
shut down came with winter. Stocks
are now more ample than then, but
the present situation is much like
the Fourth OF July walkout Of 1897
out of both strikes. both large and
small. the workers as a general pro-
vision have won many benefits in
increased wages and improved work
ms conditions. But victory has not
always been theirs, though the bic
strike settlements have favored
them. The operator successes, how
ever. include wage reductions. denial
of increased wages, changed working
conditions. and the crushing Of two
unions-the first national orgauiza-
ton Of miners. founded i'm 1850.
which perlshed I'm a series of strikes
at the close Of the civil war. and
the Workmen's Benevolent Associa
ton. an organization Of anthracite
workers whIh was demoralized in
1875, after Is years existence.
The first coal strike in the United
States occurred i'm 1S49 in the Penn
sylvania anthracite field when
British miner. named Bates. organ
lied local union and sought TO in
crease wages and better working
conditions. His strike failed and
Bates was forced TO leave the field
and for IL years the workers made
mo further attempt at organization
Since Bates day. many leaders
have developed among the workers
and strikes of various sorts 70.
varied purposes have been carried
on, the early fight being largely
|certered 10 small areas, occasionally
Including an entire state coal field.