Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-04
ADVISED TO STAY AWAY.
MINERS NOT WANTED IN THE BTU
MlNOUS COAL FIELDS.
President John Fahey. of the United
Mine Workers Union, Cautions An
thracite Workers Against the Folly of
Seeking Work in Soft Coal Region.

thracite Workers Against the Folly OF
Seeking Work in Soft Coal Region.
President John Fahey, of the anthra.
cite district of the United Mine Workers
of America, in an interview last week
on the exodus Of miners from this sec
ton to the soft coal fields and the
Northwest, said:
The majority of anthracite coal
workers now taking part in the mad
scramble to 90 to the bituminous are
non-unon men, and whether they know
it or not, they are more responsible than
any one else for the causes, which are
now driving them West. Bituminous
union miners are now receiving the high
est rate of wages paid in thirty years,
and their union, the United Mine Work
ers OF America, is the cause of them
enjoying these benefits.
In striking contrast with this is the
condition in the anthracite fields, where
the coal workers have no such strong
organization as bituminous miners have.
We lind that the anthracite coal workers
received no advance of % per cent in
1898 and no eight-hour work day, and
that conditions governing employment
were not made better than in preceding
years, and we find, too, that they re-
ceived no extra advance of % per cent
in wages in 1900, as the btuminous men
did, and that they are not and have not
been receiving their comparative share
of that prosperity so much spoken of
aud so heartily welcomed, so that there
is much discomfort and unhappiness
among them.
This exists to such an extent that
many hundreds of coal workers are
leaving the anthracite and going to the
bituminous regions. Some, not having
money to pay their railroad fare, beg
the persons looking for men to take
them along and keep the fare out of the
first money they earn, so anxious are
they to go to the soft coal fields, and
share, without deserving it, the benefits
brought about by union men through
their organization.
True to his practices, the n-union
coal worker, who at home evidences his
lack of nerve and common sense by re-
fusing to join his craft organization, ex-
poets to go among union men and share
the benefits brought about by their
union, and this, too, without the former
turning a finger to deserve it. Such
men will have their eyes opened when
70, I,o or r.
find that they cannot be parasites, but
must be union men, and pay dearly, but
fairly for the privilege.
'lt is right that union men should
protect themselves in the benefits they
have worked so hard to secure, and in
doing so | suggest that they double their
already very high initiation fee in par
ticular for anthracite non-union men.
This will not only show them the bene-
lit OF union, but will make them pay
for what they get, and may cause the
anthracite coal workers to organize as
solidly as their bituminous, brethren.
There is every good reason why they
should so organize.
"lf the union in the bitumnous re-
gions is good thing for the coal
worker, as well as for the employer and
for the coal trade, why will not the same
union be good thing in the anthracite
regions? For their own welfare, | ad-
wise anthracite coal workers to stay
away from the bituminous regions, and
to the non-union men in particular
address this advice"