The evening times., 1899-04-15
LABOR TROUBLES IN
MINING DISTRICTS
Testimony Before the Indus-
trial Commission.
Value and Legality Of the Boycott
System.
Black1isting fn West ylfxfnia-ln-
terstate ImPOrtatiOn ef Contract
W0rkmen-ArbiAra

The examination of Thomas W. Davis.
Vice President of the United Mine Work
ers OF America. was continued at this
mornings session OF the Industrial Com
mission.
In speaking Of the boycott the witness
stated that there had been but one at
tempt on the part of his organization TO
create a boycott. The result he regarded
as being ineffective on account of the df-
iiculty experienced in attacking the entire
supply. He regarded the boycott as a Sc
we're measure. and thought thit il ought
to be employed only after every reasonable
means has failed. II the boycott could
be made to come within the bounds OF the
law he expressed the belief that 1t ought
to be used. In reference to blacklisting.
he had heard of instances where men had
Oeen blacklisted for their ''unionism." This
is particularly true in West Virginia.
In times of strikes picketing and patrol
ing of mine property is practiceds The
witness said that 1t was regarded by the
organization as being legitimate. and is
/ employed as one of the means Tor ef-
fectively cutting on the coal supply.
Reason and persuasion, in all lnstan ces,
Is used by the striking miners to induce
those who are at first indispOsed to stop
work, and 1t fs seldom that violence takes
the place Of this method. There is moth
ing in the constitution Of the organization
which relates to the matter OF patroitng
and picketing. The advisability Of en-
ploying this method is left to the disere-
tion of the local organization.
In 1897 when miners were brought from
Birmingham, Ala. to Springfield. ILL.,. for
the purpose OF taking the place OF the
striking union men. the Illinois branch OF
the association hired a hall, took the new
men there, reasoned with them. fed them
for several days, and finally chartered a
train and sent back to Birmingham all
who were willing to go. No violence or
threats were used in urging these men to
go.
Mr.. Davis was opposed to the importa-
tion of contract labor from one State to
another. He thought that the citizens of
one State should be protected from this
character of labor from another State as
much as they are protected from contract
labor from a foreign nation.
In speaking OF conciliation he said that
this method is generally accepted by the
miners. He expressed himself in favor, in
some instances. of compulsory arbitration;
but not in all cases. The miners do re-
gard its practice as for the best interests
Of both parties.
The witness thought the injunction az
generally used in the cases Of strikes is
not right. The miners are in favor Of hav-
ing weekly pay. The advantage of this
to the workman. Mr.. Davis stated. is that
he is enabled to buy goods cheaper at
cash prices than under the present semi
monthly system of payment which COM
pels him to run an account.
Considerable friction exists at the pres
ent time said the witness. by the sys
tenn Of fining now in vogue" He con-
demned the tenement system imposed by
owners upon their workmen and protested
against the exorbitant rents collected for
the use Of these The best houses Of this
nature are found in the anthracite region
OF Pennsylvania. In West Virginia the
houses are exceedingly unsubstantial no
attention is paid to water supply and no
sanitary eonyeniences are provided. Large
rents are charged for these dwellings.
From 81 to IS a week is the usual rent.
.'The homes Of the miners" the witness
stated, ARE far inferior TO those of other
classes Of laborers. Owing to the efforts Of
the miners organization the wages Of
miners from 1869 to 1894 were considerably
higher than in the preceding ten years.
Since 1894 the wage scale has lowered.
The Miners Association has since it's or
ganization in 1896 been compelled to wage
a continual fight to maintain the higher
wages.
The witness stated that children are not
employed in the mines as generally as in
previous years. The witness went to work
when ne was nine years old. He thought
eighteen years should be the age limit.
The reason why children are employed in
the mines is that the father is unable to
earn enough money to support his family
and is compelled to seek employment for
them in the mines.
Mr. Davis objected TO convict labor be-
ing employed in the mining industry.
The operator employing convict labor can
produce his coal very much more eheaply
than the owner who must employ free