The bee., 1901-04-04


made use of by the members Of the
U. M. w, since the settlement wns
made at Louisville last week. one
would be justified in thinking that
they had indeed won a great and
lasting victory; but by n close scru-
tiny of the facts. it is seen that the
statement of victory having again
perched upon their banner, cannot
be considered true one, carefully
weigh the points made by each side,
and it can be easily seen who won.
Under the old agreement, as we un-
derstand it, the operators were ut
terly helpless when 1t came 20 the
point of enforcing discipline among
their employees. No matter what
offense was committed by the en-
ploye. he could not be discharged
unless it was agreeable TO the Z. NJ.
w. organization. The infractiOn of
the most important rule or order
governing the mines could not be re-
buked unless Jim Woods gang said
20. Now we hear that "things are
not like they used TO be, but instead
of the organization holding the reins
Of government entirely, the opera
tors have actually been granted the
privilege Ofsaying who they will and
who they will not employ, which
virtually means that hereafter the
operators at Central City and other
points will, instead of the mine OPP
orators, be the men at the helm.
Then again, under the old agreement,
one of the miners could leave when
lie saw fit, with OF without the con-
sent of his employer, and stay as
long as he desired and then come
back and demand the same position,
no matter what trouble the operators
had been put to TO secure competent
man for the place. This is also
changed. Under the new rules when
miner vacates his place for three
days or more, he eau not return TO
work of his own free will unless n
legal excuse is given. Formerly,
when one OF their number died, 1t
made no difference how small the
number was who wished to attend
the fuue raj, the mine was shut down
for that day, regardless Of tho say of
the majority or the manager in
charge. We are willing to admit
that too much respect can not be
paid the dead, yet the living should
receive some recognition when their
rights are being trampled under foot.
They boast that the one great point
gained was the one that none but
union men could be employed hereaf-
ter Tx the mines bound by this new
as Feenlent. : member Of the COM
RDittec that effected the agreement
SAYS there is no such thing in the
agreement, bat that the operators
reserved the right to employ whom
they pleased.
Those who have watched the steps
taken since their organization can
easily see where the order is drift
ing. One demand after another has
been the rule until they are gradually
leading themselves on to ruin, which
fact /; illustrated By this story told
by one of our miners: Many years
ago, he went TO New Orleans to work
on the bay, and had not cen there
long until the men demanded drink
Of liquor, or to use his expression,
"iiggerh once a day. Soon they
wanted two. then three and up nntil
they reached the point that sixteen
"iiggers" were demanded. The lat
Ter demand proved 100 riucir iofeven
the men themselves, rs their constl-
tutions would not stand It, and daily
they were seen TO fail by the way
side. SO ii can be seen that even
The laborer sometimes does not know
what is best for himself, and that
following fool order leads to ruin.
BY the practice of deception and
false statements. the /. NJ. w. are
still endeavoring to gain fuOthold
here. one day they viii meet "a
miner w.om they desire to lead as
tray, and tell him: Now is your
chance 70 join the union and get
higher wages or refuse and be for
ever shut out from work. because we
are surely going TO call out the
miners on the first Of April An
other Il. NJ. W., who has not been
posted as to the first tale says: We
will close down the mines about
April 10th, SO you had better join"
All such false statements are being
daily circulated, but we are pleased
TO say with but little effect. Ocea-
sionally man, usually oile who
cares very little for work atany time,
joins their ranks, and some of them,
when accused Of being members act
..~lIx. - ora raollxy af