The Wilson Law Caused The Coal Strike

The coal minors' strike has brought to the public attentión some facts as to the effect of the Wilsou tariff law upon this industry. The Wilsonlaw, it will be remembered reduced the rates of duty on coal 35 cents per ton, it having been 75 cents per ton under the McKinley law, and reduced to 40 cents per ton under the Wilson law. Curiously President Ratchford of the United Mine Worker's Association States that the uagesof rni ners have been reduced about 35 cents per ton since 1893, the year in which the iree-trade Congress met and began f raming the Wilson act, which reduced duties 35 cents per ton. The moment the Wilson law passed, coal from the Xova Scotia mines began invading the markets on the Atlantic coast, especially New England, and drove out of those markets the West Virginia coal, which liad always found an outlet al fair priees. Tliis West Virginia coal was thus compelled to seek a market in the west in cornpetition fl'itli tlie coals of Óhio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky. The result was a sharp competition, a fall iu priees, a ruinous rate war, not only between mine owners, but also between the railroads, and as a eonsequence a redurtion in the wages of miners. Thus the very low wages of the coal minere of the country who are now striking for auadvance are directly and logically traceable to the operalions of the Wilson law. The pending bill restores McKinley rates on coal and after it gets into operation will, it is hoped, result in improved conditions and wages forminers as well as others.