The Pennsylvania Coal Mining Strike of 1902
In 1902 the UMW wanted an increased degree of control of the mining industry, increased federal regulation, and higher pay for its members. In May it called for a strike by its miners and in June it gained the support of maintenance workers in the industry. More than 100,000 workers supported the strike. Mediation by clergy or the National Civic Federation were proposed by the UMW but rejected by the industry.
President Theodore Roosevelt ordered members of his administration to determine a means by which they could intervene in the strike, which had a detrimental effect on industry nationwide. When informed that there was no legal means for the President to enforce a settlement, Roosevelt considered using the Army to take over the coal fields. In the end he created a commission which presented a proposal for a compromise, which Roosevelt decided not to make public to avoid the appearance of siding with the UMW.
A commission was then proposed and created by J P Morgan to arbitrate the differences between the UMW and the coal industry, to begin after the miners returned to work. The strike ended in October and the commission then investigated working conditions in the mines, living conditions for the miners and their families, and wage issues. The UMW won several concessions through the commission, but did not achieve recognition by the industry, one of its key goals in the strike.
During the Strike of 1902 several incindents of violence occurred involving strikers and company security guards. The UMW claimed that at least eight men had been killed during violence instigated by company security guards or sympathetic local police. Coal operators disputed that claim and responded that at least 21 company employees had been killed by strikers.
The Coal and Iron Police, a private police force operated by the coal companies, was investigated for its activities during the strike, including several instances of excessive violence against strikers, by the commission and by the Pennsylvania State Senate. The investigation resulted in the creation of the Pennsylvania State Police in 1905.