The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-30
A LETTER TO OPERATORS
DEMANDS OF THE COAL liners OF
VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.
None of the Operators Attended the
Recent Convention mt Hunting
ton To Avoid Trouble.

President John Mitchell and Secretary
w. b. Wilson, Of the United Mine Workers.
have just returned from Huntington, w.
Va, where q conference OF miners was
held for the purpose OF having the coal op-
orators of that State meet with them in
joint convention and adjust a wage scale
and other differences. The operators failed
TO appear and the convention made its
scale and formulated other demands, which
were mailed TO all of the miners and opera
tors OF the district. with a request that the
operators take part In the joint convention
OF the miners and operators in the inter-
state agreement, which is TO be held in this
city I'm January.
Following Is the letter containing the de-
mands:
ITO the Coal Mine Operators of Virginia
and West Virginia-Nearly one month ago
the miners OF Virginia and West Virginia
met IN convention and adopted a resolution
1aYortng a joint convention or the opera
tors and miners Of these fields for the pur-
pose OF considering wages ana condltons
OF employment that should obtain for such
a period Of time as might be mutually
agreed upon. In accordance with that res
olutfon an invitation was sent TO you ask
ing you to meet the representatives of the
miners In Joint convention in this city on
Wednesday morning, Nov q, 1901
regret to learn that the number OF
operators who nave responded to the Inrt-
tattOn Is so Few that they cOulQ not Win
Justice assume the responsibility Of erter..
ing into an agreement for the adoption or
a scale Of wages TO govern all the coal
fields Of the two States, involving. as 1t
does, some of the largest bituminous coal
interests in the world. Yet we are not
without hope OF ultimate success.
We have many grievances that should
be remedied. The price paid Tor mining Is
not sufficient for the labor and risk in
volved. nor Is II equal to the amount re-
ceived for the same class or labor In other
fields. The system of paying for work at
50 much per car, whether the car Is large
or small, is so indefinite and irregular that
II Is often impossible for US TO learn how
much per ton We are receiving for mining
coal. The fact that we are not permitted
10 select check-weighmen and place them
at the weigh scales at our own expense, 10
see that our coal is properly weighed and
credited, arouses the suspicion, whether
with or without just foundation, that we
are not receiving just weight for the coal
mined. The system of monthly pay that is
prevalent throughout these fields compels
the miners to depend upon credit to main
tain their families until pay day, comes.
That condition forces them to make their
purchases in the various company stores,
amount they have earned from day to day.
The prices charged in these stores are
often exorbitant and the sales of goods at
regular market prices is an exception
rather than a rule.
FOR JOINT CONSIDERATION.
These and many other questions that
1t is not necessary TO enumerate, are. in
our opinion. proper subjects for joint con-
sid4ration between operators and miners,
and we desire to assure you that if in con-
sideration of these questions it can be
shown to US that our position on any of
them is wrong. we will deem it our duty
10 recede from such position at once.
The experience of other operators and
other miners in adjoining fields has demon
strated that where both interests can come
together in a spirit of fairness. discussing
the situation in all its phases, a broader
knowledge of each others rights is devel-
-or&d and the barbarouS method of strikes
and lockouts In settling the labor question
is abolished.
1T is only in those fields where employer
and employee refuse TO counsel with each
other on the questions of mutual interest
that disastrous strikes or lockouts occur,
and when they come the responsibility for
their occurrence must rest with those in
terests that refuse TO consider the rights of
I'VE realize that large bodies and large
interests move slowly; that the time be-
tween the adjournment of our last con-
vention on Nov. 1 and the present day may
have been too short in which to consider
all the phases of the mining situation; that
you may deem IL unwise to consider, or en-
ter into. a wage agreement without know
ing what your competitors will agree tC
pay during their next scale year, and that
you may therefore believe that il would
be better to- meet with them in joint con-
ference at the same time and place.
Under those circumstances. and with a
sincere desire to avoid any action that
might result in temporary hardships AM
loss TO the miners and inc''culable injury
to the business interests o. the operators
we most respectfully invite you to attend
and participate in the joint convention OF
operators and miners of the central com
petitive coal field, to be held in Indian.
apolis. Ind, beginning at 10 a. m, Thurs
day. Jan. 80. 1902. for the purpose Of deter
mining the wages and conditions of employ.
ment that should obtain for the scale year
beginning April /, 1902.
I'VE desire to add that If it is not salts
factory TO you 10 attend the joint conven
tion as herein suggested. 1T will give u.
great pleasure to arrange with you a time
end place OF meeting that may be mutually
agreeable"
The letter is signed by J. a. Springer
president of the convention, and ClarE
Johnson, secretary.