The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-25
ADDRESS TO THE OPERATORS
WORKERS MAKE STATEMENT OF
THEIR EXTENSIVE MIsERIEs.
BIackIisted and Turned Out of Homes.
They Say, If Suspected of Having
the Union Taint.

Secretary w. B. Wilson, OF the United
Mine Workers. returned last night from
Paramount, w. Va, where he attended the
conference of the organizers and officers
of the union in that State. The conference
decided TO order a strike TO take place
June Z, unless the demands OF the miners
are acceded to in the meantime. The con-
ference also voted in favor of calling a
special convention of the United Mine
Workers to vote on the policy of extend
ing the anthracite strike into the bitumi-
nous fields. This makes up the five dis
tricts necessary to call convention, and
the three districts in the anthracite region
and Michigan have voted for il, and all that
now remains is the formality OF call TO
be placed in the hands of the national Of
fcers. The time of holding a convention
will be set by President Mitchell and it will
be held in Indianapolis. President Mitchell
is now in Spring Valley, Ill, with his fam
lily. and will be in this city tomorrow or
Tuesday. BY that time it is likely matters
will be in shape to take up the arrange
ments for a special convention.
The conference in Fairmount was be-
tween the organizers and officers of the
union in Virginia and West Virginia There
districts and the union controls perhaps
10000 Secretary Wilson said last night
that the conditions are relatively the same
as existed in the anthracite region before
the strike in 19GO as to the ability of the or
ganization 10 take the nonunion miners out
Of the mines He said he thought that few
mines will be working after the strike order
becomes effective. The miners demand an
f, g.
10 to % per cent, and about 20 per cent.
for day laborers. which is about 10 per cent.
lower than the union scale.
STATEMENT TO OPERATORS.
Following is the statement issued TO the
operators and signed by the district Of
ficers:
and West Virginia.:
'Gentlemen-On Nov. 10, 1901, we ad-
dressed a circular letter to you asking you
10 meet your employees in joint conference
for the purpose of mutually agreeing upon
a rate of wages and conditions of employ
ment for a given period of time. In that
circular we set forth various reasons why
we believed il would be beneficial to both
employer and employe 10 establish the
joint conference system of adjusting trade
matters in these States. We have at diff
ferent times since pleaded with you 10
meet with the representatives of your en-
ployes for the purpose of considering and,
grievances which the miners are required
TO labor under. We have cited TO you in
specific terms what some of these griev-
ances are, and patiently worked on under
some of them with the hope that our petit
tion would be listened to, the grievances
removed and our conditions improved. Our
hopes have been in vain. Our petitions for
a hearing have been spurned and an addi-
tiOnai burden placed upon us. Notwith-
standing the period of prosperity We are
passing through with the increased cost of
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 dismis-
sal. TO spend our meager earnings in the
'pluck-me stores, paying, in many IN
stances, the most eXOrbitant prices ever
heard Of for the necessities of life You
have overridden and violated the laws of
the States by refusing TO permit us to en-
ploy check We1ghmen at our own expense
10 see that our coal is properly weighed.
In direct violations OF the laws of the State
and contrary 10 the customs prevailing
elsewhere you have persisted in the anti
ouated system of monthly payments. APP
parently with other purpose than to
compel us TO deal in your stores. You have
victimiZed and blacklisted rs, not merely
for belonging 10 trade union, but for
being seen in the company of or in con-
versation with any person who is a trades
unfonist: and you are now requiring us 10
sign a house lease in which we must agree
not TO permit any one TO visit us without
frst having obtained your consent, and
giving YOU the right TO send your private
cOnstabulary at any time OF the night or
dav TO search our homes for such guests
as may be Objectionable to you.
These and many other grievances and
indignities we have submitted TO and
horne rather than resort 10 strike as
means of adjusting them We have ap-
peaIed 10 YOU time and time again, and
VOur only reply has been addltlonal Dur-
dens and they have at last become un-
bearable. Having failed 10 get our Wrohss
riohted while we continued at work, we
have decided TO cease work, ana aIteF
Saturday. June 4. 1902. until the ScaiS OF
wages adopted at Huntington, W. Va
March is. 1902. a copy OF which Is mere
with furnished you, has oeen coInPtleu Pt
with, or you have met US IN JOINT con- coHLT,
ence and another scale has been mutuaHy
I'm notifying you of our decision to cease
work we desire TO impress upon you the
fact that we fully realize the responslolnty
20 such a step We understand the hun
ger and other hardShips that we ana ouI
families will be compelled TO enquire we
know that il means loss OF prohl 10 49, ~
and that many thousands not directly CON
nected with the coal trade Will suHer II lnS
mines are closed. We have sought 10 aNoiu
fbis by conciliatOry methods, ana say 10
Won now that we are ready TO meet you IN
Ioint conference for the purpose OF consIu-
erfng any possible adjustment OF ~ ~tnese
grievances at any time ana pace ma AiaS
he mutually agreed upon, either before or
after the suspension OF work has taken
place. and desire you TO accept TINS aS
Standing invitation 10 that end
'ssTTTttb a sincere desire to establish more
oy,fcabIe relations between the employer
and employe OF the coal INDUSTRY OF the
Virgfnias than have ever existed IN the
,ss9 we are. very respectfully yours,
hThe Coal Miners and Mine LanoreTs oi
Ti~oiria and West Virginia, per J. A
Richards. president; Clark Johnson sec
retary.
THE STRIKE ORDER.
po,Ioxing is the strike order issued by
the officers: - ., v,r-
.sro the miners and mine laborers OF l,t,.r,- VII
~4nia and West Virginia In the 'es