The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-06

! under pledge OF secrecy, nave been re-
spoasible for the low prices for bitumi-
nous coal for tho past two years.
When competition of this kind is once
started, it does not stop until it ap-
proaohes the point of actual cost OF pro-
duction, and this is generally followed
by an attempt to reduce wages so that
the competition may be carried still fur
Their
1t seems to me- that there is no buRi.
ness in this country where the remedy
is SO plain rs in tho btuminous trade
1t is possible for capital und labor to
unite in such manner that both will
raceive their fsir shnro of the results
Thore Is no question that the yearly con-
fi;ot is injurious to all concerned, and
there is likewise no question that these
yearly conflicts cnn DO avoided.
1t rests with the conservative and in
telligent mon i'll tho ranks of lnbor and
among the operators and railroad man.
ayers to bring about an organization
which will prevent any trouble in the
future Such an organization should en-
brace West virginia, Pennsylvania.
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The Inter
state association should fix the miners'
wages for the miners i'll the various
districts. 1t should also establish the
price for coal and the rates for CARRYING.
Then In each district There should be
local organization, like that Of the Ohio
Coal association, to take charge of ques-
tions which belong to that district alone,
such as tho making of salos and contracts
and receiving the proceeds. This power
| should be added to that which is already
possessed by the Ohio association.
Formerly there existed an interstate
organization embracing Pennsylvania,
Ohio. West Virginia, Indiana and Hi
nois, and the results were profitable to
all Interested. O., tho railroads and
their employees, the mino owners and
| their employees.
Today tho chief opposition to reviving
| 1T seems to DO the operators in Pcunsyl-
yania, who have openly declared them.
selves against any agreement either of
the mine owners or organization Of mine
| labor.
! good commencement to an inter
stnto agreement is found among the
operators Of Ohio, who seem to DO gon-
orally i'll favor of it, and who have made
frequent efforts during the past yenr
among tho Pennsylvania operators to re-
establish the Interstate compact, because
tgave tho best returns to all concerned
including labor. 1t was with this in
view that tho Ohio operators faithfully
carried out the 1894 agreement, and in
the face Of Pennsylvania having reduced
Its labor to the lowcstpoint over reached.
There should be no difficulty III arriv-
ing at an agreement with the national
miners organization as to what would
be fair wages for tho minors in tho W.
rious districts. Then the agreement
should provide o scale Of wages for tho
miners which would advance and de-
clino with the price of coal. believe
that such ascalo is i'll existence today in
Wales and has been found to work to
the satisfaction of both the mino owner
and the miner. The Reading railroad
ut one time worked under such {. system
and found it satisfactory.
In Wales IN auditing OF the sales
takes place every 60 days, and the aver
age price determines the price paid the
miner. Tho books OF the various associa-
lions should DO open to tho inspection of
the representatives Of the railways. the
| operators and the miners organization
so that there could be 10 question as to
whether tho agreement was being faith
fully carried out.
| The Ohio operators deserve great
credit for the stand they have always
taken III favor Of higher wages for the
| miners and also for the honorable man
ner in which they have lived up to the
| agreement they have nude with the
miners organization. Iwish could saw
rs much for the operators of the Pitts
burg district.
1t seems to mo that the labor leaders
Ill the MIXERS organization made n Sc
rIous mistake in 1914 when they ordered
STRIKE not only i'll the district which
refused TO pay the wages demanded. but
also i'll districts whore the operators
We're willing to concede what tho min
ers asked and where they had always
received fair treatment. Had they ut
that time confined their strike TO the
districts which insisted upon low wages
their expenses would have been much
less, and they would have had "A larger
fund mt their command by being able to
draw more heavily upon the miners who
would have been at work in tho districts
which We're not opposed to the rate then
| demanded
Tho rates which have always been
| recognized as being fair between the VA
rious states are to give the minors in IL