Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-05-27
TWO CENTS
OPERATORS INDIFFERENT.
State That They do not Expect
Coal Strike.

Grievances About Which they COM
plained-ROdress has Been Denied
Them-Know the Consequence but
Dare Defy them.
The coal operators of West Virgin
ia are apparently unconcerned in re-
gard to the action Of the convention
of the united Mine Workers of West
Virginia, which closed its session at
Huntington yesterday. The order to
strike on June ! will never be put into
effect they say.
The operators will not heed the
appeal of the miners for a joint con-
ference.
The mine workers claim that out Of
the 3, 900 miners in West Virginia
more than three-foarths belong to the
union. The operators say that they
have not one-fourth of the number
organized, and that any effort to
cause general strike will fail.
Following is the appeal issued by
the United Mine Workers to the OPP
orators Of the Virgininas:
On November 8 we addressed circu-
lar letters TO you asking that you
meet your employees in joint conference
for the purpose Of mutually agreeing
upon rate of wages and conditions of
employment for given period of
time. In that circular we set forth
various reasons why we believe it
would be beneficial to both employer
and employe to establish the joint
conference system OF adjusting trade
matters in these States. We have
cited to you in specific terms what
some of these grievances are and pa
tiently waited with the hope that
our petition would be listened to,
the grievances removed and our con-
ditions improved
Our hopes have been in vain. Our
petition for hearing has been spurn
ed and additional burdens have been
placed upon US. Notwithstanding the
period OF prosperity that we are pass
ing through, with the increased cost
living incident thereto, we are mining
coal in many places in these States at
lower rate than any other place in
the world. We are compelled under
penalty of dismissal to spend our
meager earnings in the "pluck-me"
stores, paying in many instances the
most exorbitant prices ever heard of
for the necessities of life. You have
overridden and violated the law Of the
State by refusing TO permit us to emf
ploy check weig hmen at our own ex-
pense to see that our coal is properly
weighed. In direct violation of the
laws of the State and contrary to the
customs prevailing elsewhere you have
persisted ia the antiquated system OF
monthly payments apparently with no
other purpose than to compel US to
deal in your stores.
You have victimized,and ulacklisted
us not merely for belonging to trade
union, but for being in the company
or in conversation with any person
who is trades unionist, and you are
now requiring US to sign house lease
in which we must agree not to permit
anyone to visit us without first hav-
ing obtained your consent and giving
you the right to send your private con-
stabulary at any time of the night or
day to search our home for such guests
as may be Objectionable to you. These
and many other grievances and indig-
mites we have submitted to and borne
rather than resort to strike as
means of adjusting them. We have
appealed to you time and time again
and your only reply has been addition
al burdens and they have at last be-
come unbearable. Having failed to
get our wrongs righted while we con-
i NJ II Lp nd n
cease work on and after Saturday,
June I, 1902, until the scale of wages
adopted at Huntington, w. Va,
March Is, 1902, has been complied
with, or you have met US in joint con-
| ference and another scale has been
mutually agreed upon.
| In notifying you of our decision to
quit work we desire to impress upon
you the fact that we fully realize the
responsibility of such step. We I'M
derstand the hunger and other hard
ships that we and our families will
have to endure; we know that it
means loss of profit to you and that
many thousands not directly connect
ed with the coal trade will suffer If the
mines are closed. We have sought
to avoid this by concilidtory methods
and say to you now that we are ready
to meet you in joint conference for
the purpose OF considering, and IL
possible, adjusting these grievances
at any time and place that may be
mutually agreed upon either before or
after the suspension has taken place
and we desire you to accept this as
standing invitation to that end:
CLARK JOHNSON, j A. RICHARDS,
President.
Secretary United Mine Workers of
America