The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-04
BY gibson GARDNER.
Special Correspondence to The Press

Special Correspondence to The Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Sept. "A
union of all the coal mine owners
in this district is fighting the prin-
ciple of unionism among the work
men employed in the mines. That
is the essential and unique feature
of this strike situation. Contribut-
ing causes of the great Industrial
contest are oppressive labor condi-
tions-and an unjustified cut in
wages.
I'VE do not propose to recognize
the union, and this question We will
not arbitrate."
Such was the frank declaration
of George G. Crawford, president Of
the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. and
official spokesman for the coal op-
orators association. I'VE object to
these miners unions because they
are irresponsible. They are not in
corporated and therefore cannot be
sued or made to respond in dam
ages in the courts"
Vice President j. w. Sibley of
the operators association said
when asked later as to its legal
status:
"No, We are not incorporated. We
take a lesson in that respect from
the opposition"
The association controls 95 per
cent of the tonnage in the Birming.
ham district, and its head and front
is the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co.,
which is owned by the steel trust.
If it is not trust" and "con-
spiracy in restraint Of trade
within the meaning of the Sherman
antitrust law, then it must be a
charitable organization devoted to
the dissemination of pajamas to
Fiji islanders.
Wages paid in the district are
much lower than in the northern
coal fields, ton of coal in Pennsyl-
vania bringing the miner an aver
age Of sc cents, as compared with
AZ or less in this field. In addition
to which there are just causes for
the miner here to complain of false
weight in measuring the amount of
his labor.
Added to these causes of discon-
tent cut of 10 per cent was made
this summer in the wages of the
Alabama men-a step which was
not taken by the operators in the
north, where they had a compact
organization and regular contract
scale.
This brought on the strike. When
It was called the membership in
the Alabama union leaped from
$500 to 1900 members. Practically
all these men came from the pits
without the price Of weeks
board. They were sheltered in
tents and living on rations distrib-
uted semi-weekly under the au-
spices of the national organization.
OF course, the minute they struck
the men were compelled to leave
the company houses they called
homes.
The operators welcomed the
union challenge and started in,
after the manner approved In SINH
lar cases, to smash the union once
for all. Governor Conner has lent
the militia and the steel trust has
contributed without limit for the
hiring Of special deputies-armed
private guards-at SO per diem.
The men get two, and the sheriff,
for some reason, get the other dol
lar.
There was no such thing as free
speech. When the miners hold a
meeting the operators send soldiers
and guards, and arrest any person
saying things that they don't care
to have said.
Rev. w. A. Lewis was arrested
for telling an audience that the
only enemies they had were the
sheriffs dirty deputies" At the
same meeting Mr.. Howle. editor OF
the Birmingham Register, was
placed under arrest for saying that
the sheriff had retained in his en-
ploy deputies who had been guilty
Of shooting handcuffed prisoner
in the back.
Just between ourselves, and not
for publication, we are not running
our mines as a charitable institu-
tion,' was the statement of a promi-
nent Birmingham operator 1--WE
don't like the unions and we don't
propose to have them in this dis
trict. We believe the best adjust
ment of wages comes from the
working of the law of supply and
demand. Labor Is worth what 1t
will bring. Brains and capital are
worth what they can get. We don't
believe the men have intelligence
enough to use the power of a
union"
"But the companies have?"
Most assuredly."
"The pinch Of cold is what will