The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902

The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 began today, May 12 in Pennsylvania. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) led this strike for higher wages, shorter hours and union recognition. John Mitchell was president of the UMWA. Their main target was the Reading Railroad, (owned by J.P. Morgan), which controlled most of Pennsylvania’s hard coal mines. In 1875, Franklin Gowen (then president of the Reading) and Allan Pinkerton framed dozens of Irish union men on bogus murder charges. They falsely called them Molly Maguire terrorists. As a result, twenty innocent men were hanged. Additionally, the previous miners’ union was destroyed.

At the time of the 1902 strike, roughly 80% of the region’s 100,000 anthracite miners supported the new UMWA. The Pennsylvania governor called out the National Guards. The hated Coal and Iron Police (Cossacks) and private detectives also fought on the side of the Reading. Yet even this overwhelming show of force was insufficient for the bosses. They went to President Roosevelt, claiming that the strikers had killed twenty men and that he had to intervene to save lives. In reality, less than ten people died in the strike, mostly miners killed by cops and vigilantes. Nevertheless, Roosevelt eventually did intervene, providing a “neutral arbitrator.” This was the first time the federal government had arbitrated in a labor dispute. As a result, the miners got a 10% wage increase and a nine-hour workday (down from ten hours). However, the Reading still refused to recognize the union.