The Labor enquirer., 1884-09-13

The miners declare their first obiect
to be-: 10 secure 4 just remuneration
for their LABOR. Well what is s5ust r.
Nothing less than 1000 pounds put Of
every ton mined, would be the proper
reward to the miner, but they wish only
enough to keep them little above the
level of the European laborer. Who
gets the remainder. and who ought to.
get it?
I I wish to give these miners some OF
my political economy. / must suppose
that every one of them believes demo-
cratic form of government is the best
Have you got it in Colorado? Evidently
not, for you ARE robbed by the company
who appear to be the supreme rulers in
that part of thestate."
What have you done to make them so2
You, the people Of Colorado, are the
state. As state you have given1or
sold at nominal price, your coal mines
to "a few individuals, because you con-
sidered yourselves unable to run the
mines. When you gave the mines away
you knew they would be run underline
the old rules of political economy =
which state that those capitalists have q
wage fund.- which they are willing to
use in mining coal. If there be a good
many miners wages will be low; if fews
wages will be high.
They pay out this wage fund and in
return for it have all the coal The
surplus over the amount of the wages,
they keep for risks and interest on
investment
Now that political economy is false
! from first to last. There is no fixed
wage fund.- If there were, they could
not reduce your wages 15- per cent.
There are no risks The coal is sure
to be sold. sInterest is not a legitimate
return for capital. Itcan only be claimed
when one party in a trade is forced, by
! his conditions, into a bad bargain.
! The proprietors advance no wealth to
you when they paw you wages. The
money represents coal that has already
/ been dug out and in the hands of the
boss.
The proprietors did not make the coal
1t belongs to the people. You HAVE
/ ..S,.,. - IL, .x,o,,p o,yx, ca., ond ,ro
willing to receive just enough to support
yourselves and families, for the work Of
digging it out. The boss pockets the
the money received for the surplus, and
laughs at you for your simplicity.
Here is what you must do Take back
your coal mines and declare them the
property of the state. Elect your mining
superintehdents and oyerseers, as you dc
your school officers. They should be
from your own numbers.
Declare eight hours or less shall be a
days work. Let every man mine coal
that wants TO, no matter what the price
4 lS. 1OuI WdStS WILL NC uuSu SiSdeOi
than you get now, for the boss now has
four-fifths of the whole. Besides you
will reduce the price of coal all over
the country SO that no one need be cold
this winter. If there be surplus above
your pay it will go into your state treas
ury to be used in public works which
wild employ your surplus labor and bene-
ftall The value of coal which you do
not get is squandered in high living by
the thieves who are very glad you gave
them the coal mines. "a
Your, state must own your mines.
When you strike for anything less than
| this you find you must continually fight
to keep it or get it. My plan is not
visionary nor unjust nor wild nor Com
munistic. Itis pure democracy on bust
ness principles. Of what use TO you Is
democracy if tits not applied to your
industries? ZENo.