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Show THREATENED STRIKE OF COAL MINERS. From Philadelphia dispatches it appears that the East is to suffer suf-fer another strike among the coal miners and the horrors of a coal . famine. The miners are said to be dissatisfied with the awards made by the commission appointed daring the last strike at the instance of President Roosevelt; they declare that the practical working of the agreement has never been satisfactory. The miners are to hold a meeting soon and outline their demands. It is understood that they will ask a 12 per cent-increase in their pay and an eight-hour working day. The employees do not appear very sanguine of a successful issue of their plans. They are already discussing dis-cussing the probability of the mine-owners' refusal to meet them In conference. In case it is inijiossible to arrange a hearing and present pre-sent their demands, the miners will declare the agreement made after the last strike void. This will mean a strike. Both coal miners and operators should take a lesson from the lecent amicable settlement of the labor troubles in the cotton mills at Fall River, Mass. There is a hopeful sign here for those who (Tream of a time when capital and labor will be in perfect accord. The cotton mill operatives a month ago demanded better wages and shorter days. Their demands were refused by the owners. A strike Mas threatened, but sensibly, both sides withdrew somewhat from their original position, a conference was arranged, a compromise effected ef-fected and a satisfactory agreement reached by both sides. It is to be hoped that as peaceful and seusible a solution of the labor difficulties in the Pennsylvania coal fields will be reached. A strike will entail needless suffering and losses on both sides; its effect ef-fect will be far more widespread than the coal fields themselves. If the miners haven't a Bser,.who believes the coal mines were left in his charge by Divine Providence, to deal with, a peaceable settlement nay be reached. |