Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-12
PAID THE SMALLEST WAGES
And Asked the Umpire to "let
~ Well Enough Alone"
HIS MINERS WERE I'm A HOLE
with a Net PROFIT of Nearly 40 Centc a
Ton Operator Chapman Refused
to Increase Wages, ,n>-
TO tho Editor:

!
date Chapman have but one issue in
the present campaign; viz, Chapman,
the best friend the worllingman ever
| had" But they are very loud in their
protest against bringing Chapmans
record in evidence to prove the fall
lacy of their proposition. Let the
Judgment.
1t is we'll understood by the miners
and operators of Ohio that Mr.. Chap
man is the leading spirit among the
coal operators of Jackson county,
where he is largely interested in coal
mining. 1t is generally accepted by
operators and miners OF many states
that Chapman for tricEery and soph-
istry in debate or argument has few
equals or any.
A prominent coal operator in the
Massillon district once said: Foxy
Chapman is a slick article, and don't
you forget it,"
For many years before and after the
formation of the Ohio Miners asso-
citation, it was continual cut rate
war among the coal operators, fight
ing for advantage in the markets, un-
til the coal trade was entirely demor-
allied, and the miners suffered in con-
sequence, Chapman's miners included.
In 1SS4-5, during the long bitter
strike in the Hooking valley, the min
ers of the northern and eastern coun-
ties in Ohio secured an advance in the
price of mining and day labor, but the
Jackson county mine workers were
kept in the hole where Chapman had
put them many years before.
In 1886, when the Ohio miners were
better organized than ever before, the
organization requested the Jackson
county miners to demand cents per
ton more for mining.
The advance asked was about one
half what was due the miners, but Mr..
Chapman positively ignored the rea-
sonable proposition.
Hon. John Mcbride, then president
CT the union, proposed arbitration.
Chapman was chosen as arbitrator oa
the operators side. The course he
to deceive the umpire and
defeat the miners in this case can
never commend him to the public to
be either fair or friendly to the
miners.
At that time nearly one-haif of the
mines in Chapmans district employed
from 10 to 40 men in each mine, the
roadmen having full control Of each
mine. But Chapman credited each |
mine with a superintendent, mine |
boss and roadman. In many ins.a 2eg
one Of the company would manage the |
store connected with the mine but |
Chapman in the testimony had count
ID these store managers into mine SUI
oerlntendents at $50 per month each.
All this was done to show the umpire
The enormous cost to produce a ton
II coal IN Jackson county.
The evidence of the miners proved
,onclusively that Chapmans net profit
was 81 81 cents per ton on all coal
produced but Chapman said that the
profit cf the operator should furnish
10 evidence fof an increase OF wages.
For the past II years Chapman has
been paying from 10 to 40 cents less
per day for day labor than is paid in
other coal fields in Ohio (see Ohio
Statistical Reports), yet he appealed
10 the umpire to "let well enough
alone"
Chapman's record is against him,
and N his record is we'll put before
the public, the verdict will be that he
has too much voice and too little sym-
pathy for the workingmen to be gov
ernor of Ohio.
COAL MINER.
1.-THE foregoing letter, as was the
one previously printed in these COL
umns over the same signature, was
written by an Ohio miner, who has
worked in the mines near New Straits
vile for many years. He is a careful,
conscientious man, and speaks from
actual knOWlndpn and noraP,,I ;ru.zI.