The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-31

cover Oyalt1es.. 2,5OO,OOOOO $3.50, 419.1e
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Steel Trusts Great Earnings.
The Steel Trust In It's report does
not say how much it has paid in
wages to It's 1898 employees of the
| mining department. That can be flg-
tired on the average wages paid at
the Fayal in ENeleth and at the
Oliver In Mountain Iron. They have
paid something less than $6,00O,O0Q,
thus leaving a net surplus Of about
! $40, 900, 900.
For the past two years, while the
| wages have remained the same, the
production has doubled and It's cost
has decreased by half. Underground
operations, fast disappearing, are
twice as expensive as the open pit
work. Superintendent Moore testified
that 1t cost only 34.4 cents a yard to
strip the Wacootah mine. Superin-
tendent Chinn gave $4,000 as the cost
of sinking one shaft a distance Of $50
feet.
In the past, the miners who sue
ceeded one another ignored all these
facts and figures; neither did they
care to find out anything. Absorbed
in the individual struggle to get liv-
ing, they toiled and suffered Finally
the grim desperation of their lot, want
and suffering compelled them to
think. The realization of their ex-
ploitation created feeling Of REBEL
lion against the exploiters. Here and
there they went out on strike, only
! to be beaten back to work. But the
| miners learned lesson. They real
lied the necessity OF an organization,
the only means to prepare and assure
a successful fight against the mas
! ters
Miners Organize A Union.
1t was two years ago when the first
union was organized. Other unions
followed, so that in June, 1907, there
were IA, all federated in a. district
union and directly affiliated with the
western Federation Of Miners. The
Steel Trust and the other mining COM
panles watched the slow progress of
the miners organization, and occa-
s1onally, whenever through the Pinker-
ton agency they could get the names
OF the most prominent members, they
let them off from their work How
ever, when the membership had in
creased to several thousands. the Steel
Trust thought the moment had ar
rived when they should kill this Or
ganization at a single stroke.
| The strike Of the ore handlers at
Duluth was used by the Steel Trust
as club to destroy the Western Fed
Grafton Of Miners in Minnesota. M
sooner had the ore handlers ceased
work than the Steel Trust commenced
10 lay Off men at its various mines:
and all of the men who were thrown
out OF employment were members OF
the miners unions. Little attention
would have been paid to this, were 1t
not for the fact that, as union men
were discharged, their places were
Immediately filed with non-union
men.
Forced to Enter tho Strike.
The local officers Of tho Western
Federation Of Miners realized the
danger of the situation and rather
than see the end of the organization
resorted to fight for which thew
were not yet prepared. Demands for
better wages and shorter hours were
not the main Issue. The main issue
was the right Of men to organize. az
against the discrimination and black
list instituted BY the Oliver Iron Min
Ing company. e%ssy seE}2. ~ ~ !
On July 16, 1907, resolutions were
adopted by the district union and
J rushed TO a vote Of the local unions