Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-12
ALL KANSAS COAL MINERS LIABLE
TO QUIT WORK.
,EIGHT.HOUR DAY DEMANDED
HEADERS SAY THAT NOW is A GOOD
TIME TO GET IT.
Call Issued for Suspension of Work on
Saturday in Mines of All Kansas
Companies Operating in Ar
kansas and the Indian
:. Territory.

PITTSBURG. KAS, May n.--(Special)
| Acting upon instructions from President
Mitchell. of the national organization, w.
| I. Wright, president of district No IA, L.
NJ w. A, issued a call to-day for a sus-
pension of work i'll the mines of the West
| ern Coal and Mining Company, the Kansas
and Texas Coal Company, the Central Coal
| and Coke Company and the Southwestern
Improvement Company, on next Saturday.
President Wright said to-day that only the
four companies would be called out now,
but would not say that a general strike
would not occur before the fight is ended.
He is Sanguine of success and thinks II Is
impossible for the L. NJ w. A. to fail. The
circular accompanying the call for strike
says:
THE hour has arrived when something
must be done to better the conditions of
labor among the miners of the West and
Southwest. The miners of Iowa, Illinois,
Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania have
fought and won the battle for eight hours.
The retaining of this great boon depends
in d great measure upon the miners in the
West and Southwest winning the same
concession. A united endeavor on our part
for the eight-hour day cannot be defeated
with the substantial aid and encourage
ment we shall receive from our brothers
in the East We would not have asked you
Ildht lIllS iiic piSSSiiS 'tiiie 'NiS
that the operators have forced fight upon
US bv refusing to settle the trouble in Ar
kansas and the Indian Territory. We have
tried repeatedly to arrange this matter
amicably but have failed: hence our ma
tional presidents and national executive
board have deeuned it necessary to call
upon the miners working for the same
companies who are operating mines in Ar
kansas and the Indian Territory to suspend
work in Kansas and Missouri.
ITO supplement the call of the national
president, the executive hoard of district
"a has considered it wise policy to make
the battle a general one, and to inaugurate
Il fight all along the line for the eight
hour workday and better prices for mining
coal and better wages for those employed
in and around the mines.
THAT the eight hour workday should be
conoedesd is self-eNident. Four-fifths of the
mine workers of America are now work
ing under that system. That we should
get increase in wages Is self-evident.
The mining industry was never in more
prosperous condition The price of coal
has advanced in the market since the fall
of 1855 without any corresponding advance
in wages. We are told that general pros
perity is abroad in the land hence no
good reason can be advanced why labor
should not share in that general pros
perity. Therefore. we ask your careful
consideration of the scale of prices and
demands submitted to you herewith. Leav-
enworth. Usage and other counties in Kan
sas are asked to formulate a scale of prices
suited to their localities, with a corre-
spopding increase in wages. The miners in
Missouri are also asked to cooperate with
US in the same direction. Brothers, We
appeal to You to make united general
effort, and success is ours. United we
stand, divided we fall.
"First-That this district be run exclu-
sively on Il mine run basis. The price per
ton for the six summer months to be IS
cents per ton and for the six winter
month 81 cents per ton.
'Second-That uniform price for dead
work be recognized as follows: Entries,
twelve feet and over, be paid at the rate
of 81 per yard. Entries, less than twelve
feet wide, at the rate of sl5O per yard.
That all cross cuts be paid at the rate
of Sl.50 per yard, including breakthroughs
and air courses Brushing, SO cents to 81
per yard, according to thickness OF brush
| ing. Horsebacks, 81 per foot. Slowing
dirt. 10 cents per car, or 30 cents per yard,
| or be taken away by the company.
"Thhd-That the price of powder be s1.l5
| per kes
paid ah the rate OF s. per day. Trappers,
'Fifth--That We are opposed to any man
| in our Ia rye mines having more than one
| job. ShoGfirers not less than s.. 30 per shift.
''Sixth-Check weighman must have a
check number in order to receive his pay,
same as IL miner; also checkoff system.
"Seventh--That We demand semi
monthly pay Gay.
"Eighth-IhiLt eight hours shall consti-
| tute "A days work.
"Ninth-That district II is opposed to
the compulsory doctor system.
Take a vote on above propositions i'm
mediately. apd forward result to the dis
| trict secretary. Robert Gilmour, box a.
Scammon, kas.. not later than Thursday,
| May is. 1885"
| Considerable dissatisfaction exists among
| the rank and file of the miners who do not
desire to stop work, and some trouble is
| anticipated when it comes to the time of
| suspension of work. \ big mass meeting
| of miners is in pIOgreSs tonight in a camp
| of the Western Coal and Mining Company,
| located a few miles north of here, with
brass bands and speeches.
Warned Not to Go to Work.