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

Referring to the complaints that their scale contains, I want to say that that is a matter for very serious consideration, because 1 hold that the very life of the joint movement largely depends (and am addressing these remarks more par ticularly to the miners than l am to the operators), 1 say that the very life Of this joint movement very largely depends on ehe miners carrying out their pfa't of the contract.
 He Deprecated.
 T will say that I have no sympathy for miners or any men who will lay down and stop a mine previous to inyestiga- tion being made by the officers Of the organization or the officers of the coal companies. It Is neither fair to them- selves, nor is 1t fair to the operators, Fnd if we are to have a continuance of peace. why, l urge upon you the neces- sity of seeing to 1t that every method Is used before you stop mines. l simply want to call your attention 70 rre fact that the constitution of your organiza- ticn Is opposed to that policy But, whether the remedy suggested by the op- orators is the proper remedy to apply or not. l am not gc Ing to discuss at this mo- ment, be6 ause I believe that that should be a matter to be considered by the joint scale committed
 
 there have been complaints of men arbi- trarily stepping mines. and I understand in some instances for little CT no reason, and if you intend tho operators to meet as we meet now, in the future, I say It is to your interest that those mines shall be kept at work until troubles either of serious or trivial nature can be investi- gated and settled. 1 do not knew, MT. Chairman. that 1 need to say much more hop n f,f he men may have made mistakes by stop ping the mines q 1o not Say tl,is either os an excuse), 1 say without the assist ence of the organization you would have had stops more frequent than you have now had them. 1 want to say that we are Just as desire us of having settlement, and having 1t peacoably, as you are. We are mot itching to strike. Eut 1 tell you frankly, and l tell you honestly, that we csrnot accept the proposition offered by You, because 1t dces not carry with 1t the spirit of equity, compared with other dis tricts and other States. l simply repeat that you arc getting now $1S per ton for No. 2 iron ard you are getting the high est selling price for coal or any bitu> minous State in the United States and therefore, w> claim, that the conditions which surround the ether states shall be epplied to thls, if a continuance of peace
 
 Colonel Bush's Speech.
 Col. T. c. Bush replied to MT. Fairly. He said:
 INT. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
 Conventions:
 "I did not expect to enter into discus sion of the merits of this question before the general body as assembled here. supposed that this matter would have +o tAa ioin nd there threshed out and all the conditions discussed. I am sorry however, that our friend, MT. Fairley, has given his opinion in regard to this matter from a miner 8 standpoint, and 1 am glad to avail myself of the opportunity of expressing some views from the operators standpoint. l wish to say in the beginning, that, so far as I know, there is nothing but the friendliest relations existing between the miners and the operators, or the miners in their organization and the operators in their organization.
 '1 do not believe there Is a man who Is controlling any mining interest In this district or in this State. that for a mo- ment questions tho right of organization on the part of labor for anything. when connected with their own interests. I be lieve their rights have been fully recog nized 1 think we have treated with them so as to have it understood that we do recognize them, and just as long we treat with you as an organization. you may rest assured that we are doing 1t In the best spirit and with the greatest sincerity. When we want to do otherwise we will declare our position openly and give our reasons for objecting to your organization.
 Now, the miners in their organiza- tion, and sometimes other labor orSaniza- tiGns, very frequently refer to the recog- milton that they demand for their rights Well, they have q right to make that demand but while you arc doing that, and while the operators or any other employers are recognizing the rights of organized labor, they. must insist upon their rights being recognized as well. We are dependent one upon another. No mining operator would be foolish enough to say or think that ho can get along without mining labor. and any miner will be very foolish to say or think that he con get along without the operator. You cannot dc 1t.
 '"rheI efore, when we come to treat on matters of the kind, we must recognize 1t as a plain, square business prcposi- tion. As was stated this morning, you come with your labor to sell. We come as purchasers of your labor. Now. just as you have tho right to sell your labor, the buyer has the right to refuse to pay your price for the labor; consequently, it takes two to make a trade, and you never sell unlees you have d buyer and you never find a buyer unless you find one who believes he can afford to pay your Irice.
 Obligation of Contract.
 "So much for that; and without going into generalidcs, want to say this much first In a general way with reference to the obhgetion of contract and l am very glad my friend Fairly has referred to that. 1 wish to say to you as a friend that the more you fail in the least obligation you enter Into, the more you weaken your organization. and the more you withdraw the respect from people generally.
 "A great many people make contracts in this world that turn out not as good as they like. But a man who has any sense of manhood about him will stand up to his contract, good or bad, and then when 1t comes around again try ana see if you cannot make a better bargain, as you generally do. Now, in regard to the merits of some of the claims that MT. Fairley has mentioned: He has laid great stress on the matter of eight hours per day. Now you know and l know that the eight-hour day question Is a part or the United Mine Workers creed, and some day I suppose they will all get it.. I am sure it Is part of your creed, and I am sure you expected to ask for 1t and demand 1t. Sometimes we make demands that are premature, and sometimes we make demands that are unreasonable
 T call your attention to the demand IL