The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-10


together, and they undoubtedly control
the output. They are in competition
only With the bituu,inous mines OF the
country, and that is the only thing
which prevents them from having .
monopoly.
But there IL another trust in the neld.
and st Is not to be lost sight OF in con-
eddering and discussing the question.
while the owners OF the mines control
the coal. the Mine Workers Union con-
trolls, by virtue OF law, tho labor In that
district We have several times referred
% this but the dearest statement Of the
case is made by the Philadelphia Press.
and that our readers may have a fair
understanding OF the case We reproduce
the following extract from an articls In
the Press OF Wednesday:
The anthracite mine-s' license act,
0assed in July. 1927, bars any importation
- miaoro. No man can mine coal until
Ae has been examined and licensed by
Ahe Miners Examining Board" OF his
district made up OF nine miners who
have worked i've years. No man Ia elig1-
BILE for this examination unless he has
shae not less than two years practical
experience as miner or q mine laborer
IN the mines OF this Commonwealth
He must answer Eat least twelve Ques-
lions In thu English language pertaining
to tha requirements of practical miner
and be tdentihed under oath by a prac-
xical miner holding miners certificate
This bars from the anthracite mines
any miner who has not been two years
yn MI yf1ine A for
a,ener Is excluded. though competent in
nj other respects, unless he has knowl-5
edge of English most unusual in Slav
or Hungarian. Such a man may work
IN the mines lifetime but unless he
learns English so as to answer intel
ligertly and correctly" pretty stiff
examination. he can never hope to be
miner He must remain all his days on
the inferior pay Of laborer.
The coal mining companies. when order
is restored. are therefore restricted to
the miners already licensed and at work
last May The Miners Examining
Boards have held no meetings this sum-
nler No attempt has been made to man
damus them. 1t is doubtful II, under the
legal discretion they enjoy. any court
can mandamus their members. 1t GER
tainly cannot force them to pass new
miners.
When coal Is 1QlneQ III must therefore
be done, If at all, by the men who were
miners last May. No other men can
take ,p a pick. or the 1900 now at
work, probably 5000 or so are licensed
miners. Fully 2S,O0o to 10000 more are
holding out
we do not believe that In the United
States there is any trust, as that term
IS usually applied. which is SO perfectly
and completely hedged about by law as
this Mine Workers Union OF Pennsyl-
wanna. No man can become a profess
sionai miner until he has received a
certificate from the Miners Examining
Board, and he is not eligible even for
examination unless he has had not less
than two years practical experience as
r. miner or mine laborer in the mines
OF Pennsylvania. lie may have been
working all his life In the mines Of other
States, but he is not eligible unless he
has worked for two years In the mines
of Pennsylvania. But even If he has had
Two years experience In Pennsylvania
mines. unless he Is able to answer in
feliigently and correctly such an exami-
nation in English as the Miners Ex-
QmiuinE Board may give him, no cannot
receive q certificate. This smacks very
much of the Understanding Clause" OF
ihe Virginia Constitution
The Press tells us that these cxamin-
ing boards have held no meetings since
the strike began and that no attempt has
been made to compel them by law to
hold such meetings. Indeed. the Press
says 1t is doubtful II any court can man
damus them. and adds that 1t certainly
cannot force them to pass new miners,
And so It Is that the Mine Workers
Union. which has practically monopoly
81 the professional miners Of the State,
has also the power through these boards
50 prevent new miners from being
licensed. It is perfectly clear. there
fore, that In spite OF the military pro-
lection which the Governor has at last
given. the operators will be powetless to
set anything like sufficient number OF
professional miners to run their works
It full capacity SO long as the strikers
stand firm.
Mind you, We are not condemning the
Mine Workers Union for securing the
enactment OF such a law. II there is
any blame in the matter it is upon the
Legislature which enacted the law and
upon the Governor who set his sigma
ture thereto. Nor do we blame the mine
workers union for taking advantage OF
:be power which the law confcrs upon
them. The Law has given them mo-
,opoly and 1t IS human nature for them
10 enjoy 1t and to use 1t to their own adj
vantage. All that We care to do IL SIM
ply 70 cal attention to the fact thar
fhere is In the anthacite regions OF Penn
syayania = powerful labor trust foster
q ana protected BY law - well as a
sDoaaes1 sssse.