Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-20
WRIGHT To PLEAD
FOR HARD COAL
LABOR UNION.
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR THINKS
ANTHRACITE MINERS OUGHT
TO BE SEPARATE FROM
BITUMINoUs UNION.

WASHINGTON, oct. 1S.-It is believed
that one result of the national arbitra-
ton of the differences in the anthracite
coal region will be the organization OF
distinct labor union for that field. Carroll
d. Wright, commissioner of labor and
appointed recorder of the board OF ar
bitration, favors such a plan. His close
study OF labor conditions in general, and
his Investigation in particular, Of the con-
fiict I'm the anthracite region. upon the re-
quest Of the president, who at the time
was considering the feasibility Of bring
ing legal pressure to bear against the
operators. will make him a valued MEM
Der of the board of arbitration. The doc
uments Of facts and figures, setting forth
his views in detail, Will carry great weight
with the coal tribunal.
IN his report to the president on the
subject of a distinct anthracite labor
union, he said:
Some of the operators do not hesitate
to say that, and It is believed, that the
statement is regarded favorably by some
Of the officers that no great progress will
be made towards more peaceful condi-
ton in the mining regions until the an
thracite miners have a union of their own,
its autonomy inGividualized and not COM
plicated with that of the bituminous coal
miners. This suggestion is made when dis
cussing the question of discipline the OPP
GIdlOIS Claiming lldl lltH udu no lEOuBAd
in the anthracite regions until the union
Of the bituminous coal miners undertook
to organize the anthracite miners, and
that If the anthracite coal miners had a
union Of their own, which might possibly
be affiliated with the bituminous coal
miners, they (the operators) would be in
a better position and In better temper to
meet their employees through the organi-
zation than now, when they are obliged to
Haa1 mill NH
outsiders"
The coal weighing problem will be one
of the principal ones with which the board
will have to deal. Mr.. Wright's report
favors a readjustment, against the ope-
rators' objections.
When the board reads Mr.. wright's con-
illusions it will find that he says. among
other things:
when it is shown that ton of coal,
as It comes from the mines, contains a
varying percentage of refuse, sometimes
as high as 80 per cent, making it neces-
sary to clean and prepare the coal before
il is marketable, it is difficult to see the
force of the argument why it should not
be weighed and the miner paid for the
work he does, or at least the operators
share in the loss Of his labor in mining
impurities.
'aThe operators do not hesitate TO say
that the miners ton, and the practice of
loading rock and refuse into a car In
stead Of prepared coal, appear to be about
as hard to explain 20 the pubic as was
the powder question before that was set
tied, and that even If it were possible to
make changes at the mines to admit of
Weighing coal, they feel that 1t would not
be a wise thing to do. This may be
true, but it should be remembered that
the powder question has been settled, and
through to be genius enough to settle
the weighing question"
To the operators denial Of the miners
claim that the output of anthracite coal
has increased largely under unionized
conditions, Mr.. Wright finding holds:
1.-The miners contention is not sustain
ed by the official figures, but when con-
sidering the average tonnage per man
per year of the total number of men
employed under ground, they have rea-
son for their contention.
when the arbitrators take up the mat
ter of transportation rates they will have
to consider the miners in charge that the
operators where they are also railroad
corporations, are in the habit of charg-
ing, as a part Of the cost Of the coal,
an increased freight rate for the coal,
thus adding to its cost and, in fact, keep
ing down the statement OF profits OF min
ing coal, carrying the profits to the traf-
nc OF their trade"