The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-09-19
THE WEST VIRGINIA
MINERS SITUATION
Is Ably Discussed In an Editorial in the Last
Issue of the United Mine Workers
Journa1---Hard Facts.

the mining affairs of the Little
Mountain State. From time i'm
memorial the coal operators in
West Virginia (with the exception
Of the iNanawha DistricD have op-
posed by every method within
their power the organization of
their cmployes. Now, as a conse-
qucncc. they are reaping the inevi-
table reward.
The officials of the United Mine
Workers of America have devoted
time and energy to the organization
OF the mine workers of the State,
but these efforts have met with in.
different results. As a conse-
qucmcc of their inability to meet
and overcome the opposition of the
great combinations of capital which
controls the affairs of the state,
they have, by other methods, sue
c"cded in diverting skilled labor to
tHu~" districts where men are per.
nIttcd to exercise their inalienable
and constitutional rights. Thus
tn" operators of West Virginia
have, up to this time, been unable
10 secure the services of skilled
miners and bther workmen whose
assistance Is SO necessary to the
profitable ;fhd successful operation
u! their propn ties. So acute has
tHr situation become that the oper-
aiorS of West Virginia, hoping to
defeat the Legitimate objects of the
United Mine Workers of America.
have sent agents to Great Britain
and Europe for the purpose of per-
Suading skilled miners to immi-
CRATE to the United States and ac-
ccpt employment in the mines of
West Virginia. TO this end IL for.
m"r district president of the Unit
"d Mine Workers of America was
appointed 20 the position of State
Commissioner of Immigration, and
with funds supplied by the coal
operators, he was sent to Europe.
Nhli" we are without accurate iu-
formation as to the adviccS return
cd by him, we do know that the
Governor of West Virginia has in
Nitrd large number of represcn-
IalINc operators and miners to meet
hlm at the state capitol building at
harieSton on the 18th of this
month! The purpose of this cor
terence, we are reliably informed,
y |" devise means whereby practi-
cal miners may be induced to leave
,h"ir homes in Europe, locate and
hccome citizens of the sta:e of
West Virginia. Whether or not
these plans will succeed is, to say
the least, problematical 1t is safe
/" say, however, that no large
number of skilled miners would ac-
''pl employment i'll West Virginia
unless there shall be a radical
cA''l'Sc III the policies pursued by
'he coal operators of that state. No
Neit respecting man, whether he be
Il native of this or some other
country, could maintain that self.
respect while working under the
conditions of life and labor which
prevail IN West and o d Virginia.
especially is this true when men
can secure employment at higher
wages, shorter hours and better
conditions in any oother coal pro-
uiclng state II America. 1t is prob
an!e that the officers of the United
Nine Workers of America will take
tne necessary steps to infrom their
hritish and European fellow work
eiS OF the facts about the mining
conditions in West Virginia.
Ii the operators desire skilled.
sober, industrious workmen they
can secure thousands upon thous-
ahdS OF them in America, provided
Ihey reverse their policy of relent-
less hostility towards the United
Nine Workers of America. But
not otherwise.
In connection with this subject
II Is strange to relate that while
many of the miners in West Vir-
Sihla are working long hours for
low wages and living under con-
4ltIons totally untitled for human
nelngS. destructive of all that is
pc't and highest in mankind, they
can be Influenced and deceived by
the Specious prctexts by which the
operators persuade them not to or
game. Many of these men be-
iieEe that the sole purpose of the
United Mine Workers of America
Is to destroy the coal industry OF