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50 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
LOSSES SUSTAINED BY LABOR
UNIONS THROUGH STRIKES.
The following article, published in the Labor
World under the heading "Foolish Strikes," throws
some light on the attitude of conservative minds
in the labor field, on the strike question:
"An impressive lesson can be learned from the
recent quarterly report of the New York State
Labor Bureau. It states that recent strikes have
caused a fearful loss to many trade unions
throughout the state. In one instance, it points
out, that of the strike among the rapid transit
employes, unions embracing 45,000 men disrupted.
A long list of instances in other branches of industries
is given with losses aggregating a large
total, indeed, it is roughly estimated that these
strikes have resulted in a decrease of union membership
of nearly 20,000.
"Of course, every trade unionist will look upon
this statement with extreme regret and the more
so when it is reflected that not a member less
should have been recorded if the true teachings
and principles of trade unionism had been adhered
to.
"It is reverses and defeats of the kind in question
that should develop a safe and sound conservatism
among the rank and file of trade unionism.
For instance, let us take the case of the rapid
transit employes of New York who inaugurated a
strike in opposition to all the rules and regulations
of their union. They were misled by two or
three loud-mouthed and ignorant men whose
greatest ambition was to secure all the notoriety
possible. The national officials of the union involved
manfully denounced the strike and ordered
it discontinued at once. Some of the locals, and
big ones, had their charter withdrawn and were
thus forced out of the union for violation of rules.
"The great truth must at all times be forced
home to every union member, viz: that organization
is of no use without discipline. Union rules
must in every case be lived up to and the man
who deserts his union simply because he cannot
violate union rules with impunity is not worthy
the name of a union man.
"Scores of strikes are prompted by the most
foolish notions. Most of the foolish strikes are
miserable failures. So that it is extremely inconsistent
of all trade unionists to resolve to
strike except under the most absolute justification.
Many honest and justifiable strikes end in defeat
for the workers, but seldom is their union routed
in consequence. Discipline can effect an orderly
and compact retreat and when that is the case.
depend upon it, their fight leaves good and useful
impressions."
IOWA'S COAL PRODUCTION.
The biennial report of the Iowa mine inspectors
shows that the production of coal in the state has
increased from 6.214.379 in 1904 to 6,806,011 for
1905. The coal output of Polk county last year
was 1,094,521 tons compared with 966,172 the previous
year. Monroe county alone exceeded this
production in the state, its output for the year
being 2,117,127 tons. During the year there were
24 fatalities in the Iowa mines, which was a considerable
decrease of accidents, being only 1.4
deaths per 1.000 miners employed. The total
number of miners at work in Iowa for the year
was 17,624.
Inspector Sweeney, of the Third district, says
that the rate of wages now in effect is satisfactory
and good compared with wages in other industries.
"In fact." he says, "it is generally conceded
that our coal miners have a wage scale and
employment conditions that are suggestive of intelligent
conservatism in the management of their
organization and negotiations with the Iowa coal
operators. It is an evidence of intelligence and
honesty in the joint wage movement existing between
our coal operators and coal miners that
merits consideration."
BELGIUM FOREIGN COAL TRADE.
Exports of fuel from Belgium for the six months
ending June 30 were as follows, in metric tons:
1904. 1905. Changes.
Coal 2,302,290 2,183,535 D.118,755
Coke 438,422 512,260 I. 73,838
Briquettes 271,464 237,370 D. 34,094
Total 3,012,176 2,933,165 D. 79,011
These exports were chiefly to France and Ger­
many. The imports for the half year were as fol­
lows:
1904. 1905. Changes.
Coal 1,815,137 1.937,955 1.122,818
Coke 173,876 181,088 I. 7,212
Briquettes 22,576 26,554 I. 3,978
Total 2,011,589 2,145,597 1.134,008
The principal imports were from Germany.
The total imports of coal at the port of Genoa,
Italy, in 1904 amounted to 2,355,465 tons, as compared
with 2,403,970 tons in 1903 and 1,867,607
tons in 1894. At Savona, the imports of coal
last year were 773,040 tons; in the previous year
they were 799,577 tons, in 1894, 469,928 tons. The
imports of coal and coke at Spezia in 1904 were
254,695 tons, of which 245,000 tons came from
Great Britain.