The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-11
SLOSS- SHEFFIELD CO
 TURNS OUT SOME GOAL
President Flynn of Miners Union Says That Practically None of the Union Men Returned-BIue Creek
 Cases Against Miners.

 superintendents it will be impossible to say how much coal was mined as a re- suit of the efforts of the operators to open their mines without discrimination be- tween union and non-union labor.
 At the mines, or many of them. of the Tennessee company, the Sloss-Sheffield company. the Republic company, the Tut wiler company and the LaceyBuek com pany the whistles sounded at the usual time for beginning work yesterday. While reports are yet meagre it is known that at some of the mines men went to work. Just how many can not be ascertained.
 According to the notices posted around the mines of the various companies the ment who went to work, regardless of the strike order, are to receive a mini mum rate of about 45 cents per ton of coal when iron is selling at 80. The rate demanded by the union is 471h cents per ton minimum when, iron is selling at SS a ton.
 At the headquarters of the United Mine Workers 1t was said yesterday that com paratively few of the men had returned to work. A conservative member of the union said that not more than twelve union men throughout the district had accepted the companys invitation to re- turn to work.
 The only mines which are positively known to have sent coal over the tipple are those operated by the Sloss-sheffield company at New Found and Blossburg. It is known that some coal was turned out at these mines.
 No Reports Have Been Received.
 "As l have had no reports it is impos- sible for me to say how much coal was mined by us at the newly opened mines" said President Maben or the sloss-Shef- field company last night. q wish to say, however, that the report that no men went to work there is false. As matter of fact more men went to work at New Found and Bossburg than we had ex- pected. We intend to go right along with our business now and I believe we will have sufficient labor to operate the mines at the scale we can afford to pay"
 Don H. Bacon. president of the Ten. oofJ l,a5 ceived no reports from his mines and that he was unable to say what per centage of the men had returned to work
 "Yes, it is true that we won our cases at Blue Creek" said MT. Bacon. "These cases arose over the miners refusing to vaeate the company houses W nile have no direct information it Is my un- derstanding that the ejectment of the men occupying the company houses be- gan this afternoon"
 The question of removing miners from the company houses has been a serious one and the decision of Justice of the Peace Cox will have an important bear ing on the action of other companies in
 
 placed in the company houses 1t is be- lieved by the operators that the mines can be operated successfully without re- gard to the union
 Must Vacate Company Houses.
 I've will issue notices tomorrow morn ing said President Maben of the Sloss- Sheffield company, that our men must vacate the company houses by August S1 We have been informed of the decision in regard to the unlawful detainer cases at Blue Creek and believe that we can get our houses cleared lawfully by the last of the month";
 The cases mentioned by Mir Bacon and Mr. Maben are those which arose out of the attempt of the Tennessee company to force the miners at Blue Creek to va cate the company houses. It was held by the miners that they had paid the rent up to the first of August and that they would have to be given thirty days notice before getting out This brought on the suit which resulted In a victory for the company.
 Ed Flynn, president of the Alabama ulStrlcl Ol olliteu Mlie " NOTheTS Sdiu ldSt night that according to his information, most of the cases had been decided in favor of the operators though many of them had been decided in favor of the miners. While have not consulted our attorney said MT. Flynn. T am of the opinion that the cases will be appealed to higher court"
 While discussing the Blue Creek decis- ion Mir Flynn talked of the general situ- ation. According to reports which reach ed our headquarters today" he said, practically none of the men returned to work. We are satisfied with the manner in which the mines were opened up today. do not believe that more than ten men throughout the entire district returned to work Not a man returned at Pratt City and I am informed that not a man re- turned to work at any of the Tennessee companys plants.
 Second Day Awaited With Interest. The second day of the effort to open the mines is awaited with interest. If the op- | orators do not secure sufficient men there | Is considerable conjecture as to where the | miners will be secured It was reported | had intended importing them from the virginias but this has not been confirmed. The officials of the union visited sew