The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-20
RESPONSIBILITY OF NINE OPER-
ATORS.


ATORS.
More than a month ago a large number
of representative mine operators met in
Pittsburg and agreed upon a uniformity
rate for mining, with certain regulations
regarding weighing and screening coal
which were said at the time to contain
important concessions to the miners. 1t
was agreed that when a given number OF
operators should sign them they would go
into force. Since that time very little has
been heard of them. The representatives
of the miners gave them no attention.
In view of the proposal to adopt a uni
formity rate generally favorable to the
miners, the statement of the Pittsburg OPP
orators in yesterdays papers that they
will fill their mines with men at the 54-cent
rate because their contracts, lasting until
next May, make it impossible for them to
pay more, seems like double dealing. If
this is the case, why did large part of
these operators meet and adopt the uni
formity scale? What sort of a game have
the mine operators been attempting to
play upon the public? The Illinois and In
Wednesday, and resolved to adhere to the
rate of last year. In the meantime, many
of them have been Offering higher compen-
sation for the present. They, too, have
discovered the existence of contracts good
until next May. Because of the strike the
price of coal has nearly doubled-do these
operators propose to abide by these con-
tracts, and, for a season at least, enrich
the parties to whom they have sold their
coal, or are these contracts naught-an
afterthought of operators and dealers to
make up the losses of past years by forcing
the miners to work for the low rate while
they are selling their output for time, at
least, at higher prices than prevailed be-
fore the strike?
These questions suggest themselves to the
public since the operators have declared
a purpose to resume work at the old price.
Already it has been asserted time and
again that portion of the mine operators
were willing to have a strike and that some
favored it; have operators BEN passive, dis
cussing uniformity rates while the surplus
of coal had been consumed, but really
waiting for the time to come when they
can demand that men shall work for the
old rates? 1t seems so, and so seeming,
people not interested will regard it as
very disreputable performance.
A mine operator in this city says there
are twice as many men about the mines to
dig coal as are needed. This is largely due
to the operators as well as the miners. To
get out large quantity of coal in a given
period more men are induced to locate
about given mine than are needed A
strike comes and the operators induce
others to come and take their places, thus
calling to the mines double the men needed.
That is the trouble to-day. Twice as many
men are seeking a living as coal miners
as can be employed. If worked to their
natural capacity, the mines put out
twice as much coal as is needed And now,
after dallying more than six weeks with
the strike, the operators propose to make
conditions worse for the great body of
miners by calling new men to take the
places of the strikers. The present rate
would yield support if the men could be
employed all the time, but increasing the
number of men by bringing new miners
will end in distributing the aggregate of
wages among double the men who can be
steadily employed, which means but one
remove from starvation.
On the other side, the officers of the
miners associations insist upon 69-cent
rate They will not consider the condi-
TONS They will not compromise. They
think if they can shut all the mines they
can compel the operators to pay that price.
They seem to fail to take any note of the
ment at mines as are necessary to dig the
coal the country can consume They fail
to see that If only enough men are en-
ployed to mine the needed coal at their
price half the men belonging to their asso-
Citations will be idle.
Between the two, the operators and the
officers of the miners associations, the
miners are between the devil and the deep
sea- What can be done? Coal is an article
of first Importance. Next to bread, it is
essential to life. AS all the country and its
industries are interested in it, the people,
through legislation, might insist upon some
sort of a board of arbitration or court
which shall fix the compensation of miners.
If this cannot be done the coal operators
should form combination which may be
called a trust based upon a fair wage for
miners with an output limited to the
market