The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-28
Only Five National Coal Tie
Ups in 20 Years.
All Tie-Ups Lasted More Than
n Month, However.
MINERS DON'T ALWAYS WIN
First Attempt in 1s49 Was Lost
and Union Broken.
Present Situation Much Like
That of 1s97-Miners Won.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 2s.-Great
coal strikes, such as the country is
now facing, have been few altho for
seyenty-fiye 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
the anthracite industry which con-
tinued % 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 pur-
pose being TO restore wage scales that
of '93; 100000 to 10000 men en-
gagged and militia called out in four
states; first attempt at a compromise
failed, but second conference of min
ers and operators ended with adoption
of a scale agreement.
First Success in 1897.
1S97-July 4, walkout of 10000
miners, called by D. NJ Ratchford,
president of the u NJ. w. A. to 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 IL weeks duration, at the end
of which the market had been de-
pleted; first great successful strike of
the u. NJ. W. A
Der and October, engaged $4,000
and ended with miners getting 10 to
16 per cent increase in wages.
1902-Great anthracite strike, led
dent of the U. NJ. w. A, lasted %
weeks, May to October; 100000 men
engaged, and finally called off when
President Roosevelt appointed com
mission that afterward gave the min
ers 10 per cent wage advance, and
made their contract for three years,
ending April /, 1906.
1919-Nation-wide soft coal strike
in November and December of 5000
miners called off by union in compli-
ance with a court Injunction, obtained
by Attorney General Palmer under
the wartime Lever fuel control law;
commission later appointed by Presf-
dent Wilson gave miners an increase
their largest single increase
Not Always Victorious.
Unlike the last great strike. the
impending one begins with warm
weather approa ching swhile the 1912
shutdown came with winter. Stocks
now are, more ample than then, but
the present situation is much like the
Fourth of July walkout of 1891. Out
of the strikes, both large and small,
the workers as n general proposition
have won many benefits in increased
wages and improved working condi-
lions.
But victory has not always been
theirs, tho the big strike settlements
have favored them. The operator
successes, however include wage re-
auctions, denial of increased wages,
changed working conditions, and the
crushing of two unions-the first ma
tional organization of miners, founded
in 1850, which persisted in a series of
strikes at the close OF the civil war.
and the Workmen's Benevolent asso-
citation, an organization of anthracite
workers, which was demoralized in
1875 after fifteen years existence.
The first coal strike in the United
States occurred in 1s49 in the Penn
sylvania anthracite field when Brit.
ish miner, named Bates. organized a
local union and sought to increase
wages and better working conditions.
His strike failed and Bates was forced
to leave the field and for eleven years
the workers made no further attempt
at organization.