The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-25

as to the commercial coal men. 1t is un- fortunate, as I have stated before in pre- vious meetings especially in joint com nittee meetings, that the scale was ever based on the price of iron. It Is too un- certain It creates misunderstandings and creates losses where they ought not to occur. Now. the very time in 1900 when we got to the point where we thought we were going to reap the benefit of the higher prices, the m5rket tumbled. In my own experience had many compro- irises 70 make at many thousand dollars loss in order to get the iron taken at all. Now, the iron sold IT, February for de livery during the last half of this year Is costing a great deal more than the cost Of iron at that time. Unfortunately the turn down hill is much more rapid and you get to the bottom quicker than the ascent. I think my friend will not insist upon these demands when he knows ard realizes the conditions to which have referred.
 Scarcity of Miners.
 Where are We going to get more min CTS if we need more coal and the present output per month is reduced? I would like to know where they are coming from; do not know. They cannot spare them in other States; consequently you will bring confusion and trouble upon the very people you should consider your friends. One of the troubles, my friends. that exists today between employer and the employed is that they are not close enough together. They should be in close touch. They should consider each others interest, and when a man enters into employment to do a certain amount Of work, 1t is his duty and obligation to do it to the best of his ability, and to serve to the best of his ability the cor poration that he enters into this contract Eth. t is Just as much to the interest of the employer to consider the interest of the employe, and I believe that all enlightened men are doing that way.
 T do not blame you for wanting to get all you can but I do warn you against killing the goose that lays the golden egg"
 The speaker then referred to the fact that capital was not pushing into the south as fast as the people would like. He said the contracts he had made for coal within the past twelve months had not yielded a cent of profit.
 Colonel Bush said he did not care to discuss the two weeks pay day as he talked that out a year ago. There were too many reasons he remarked, why the two weeks pay day was not prac- tical He wanted the miners to know that the operators were sincere in their prtf- positions. He discussed the question of weighing coal and was emphatic in his desire to see every miner get full pay for his work. Touching upon the word strike. Col Bush said he sometimes wish ed 1t was never mentioned. He would like to use the word quit or something else.
 Colonel Bush closed by thanking the convention for its respectful attention.
 MT. Fairley replied to Col. Bush. He began by saying that he always liked to listen to Col Bush but he felt called upon to refute some of the things that the colonel had stated. MT. Farley de- nied that production was dimished by an eight hour day. He argued this point full ly. He then corrected Col. Bush concern ing the statement that eight hours would be equal to an increase of 25 per cent.
 Colonel Bush arose and said he stood corrected. He meant to say about 20 per cent.
 A Reply.
 Mir. Fairley then continued by discuss ing the advance in the price of iron and