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

duced the output in accordance with the demands of this territory, and more es- pecially with the demands in connection with coal for coke and iron purposes,
 Now, I want to be frank with you in another statement, and that Is think It Is always true and shouiu be true, that when a man demands more under conditions in which he is working that he will first get the best possible out or the conditions under whjcn he Is labor ing. I do not believe that to be true in the case of the miners in Alabama, and will tell you why If l am to judge from my knowledge of the business and from my observations, the miners in Alabama or in this district, do not aver age 20 days in a month throughout the year, and more than that, there are very few miners in a given number or days as far as I am able to observe that mine coal to the extent of their reason able ability.
 Now am talking to you frankly and plainly If am wrong I stand ready to be corrected, but I am speaking rom my own experience and from my own knowledge of facts as understand them. 1 say that under present conditions to- day you are very much improved, be- cause twelve months ago you were min ing coal on a basis of 50 cents per ton Today you are mining coal on basis of 55 cents per ton, Pratt basis. Every other labor in connection with your laoor has received corresponding benent' Therefore, when you come to compare your relations, you must consider that wages have not been increased in other states, but that you have received the advance by reason of your operating on tnls selling price of Iron. am not sorry of this MT Fairley says that while you are working for a maximum, you want a higher maximum and you want han VI to share the profits that the iron peo- pie are enjoying.
 The Glasses.
 Now there are two classes of people that you have to deal with. or who have to be considered in connection with this proposition. One Is the operator who works commercial coal and the miner who mines commercial coal. and the other Is the iron interest It now appears that my friend MT. Fairley did not appreciate the humor of my friend MT Aldrich this morning when he referred to your conser- vative scale, because Mir. Aldrich Is the man I have heard complaining of the conditions that exist today as to the com mercial coal mined, and I suppose did have some ground for complaint,
 Now, have the iron companies enjoyed this great benefit that our friend refers to? I will say that they have not, and I will tell you why. Those men from your organization who are delegated from time to time, to inspect the books of the companies. on which the selling price of iron is based, know very well that 1t is customary for iron companies to sell several months in advance; six months, eight, sometimes nine, ten and twelve months, as the case may be. What condi- tions do you find today when you assem- ble here and demand this increase for the next twelve months?
 The iron companies of this district have practically been sold up to every pound of iron to be made in this calendar year. You ask why do they do 1t? They do 1t for several reasons. One reason Is that they want to be sure of a market for their iron, to insure the operation of their mines and continuation of their business. Another reason Is that the buyer comes and says. My wants are much for the next six or eight months to cover the contracts have made, and I will buy the iron from you if I can. or I will buy 1t elsewhere, and the Southern man has not forgotten so well the time when his iron has been piled up on his yards to say. wait until the market ad- vances.' The average price at which the iron made in tnis year will be delivered up to the first of January. 1903, in my judgment is under SIP per ton. Iron Is being shipped andt delivered today at be- tween s10 and $11. and between s11 and SIP, and the iron that will be made be- tween now and the first of January and sold at these high prices, is not worth considering as having any bearing on the average price.
 There are no conditions in Alabama that exactly compare with the conditions elsewhere. If you demand eight hours day tabor for the miner, it is absolutely sure that the production will decrease and the cost of coal will increase Now.