The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-12-17
muo-o'in&'ng and Bully-Ragging
Tactics of Some of the Operators
at the Joint Conference asst
Week Criticised in no Uncertain
aerns-=-Fliners Conditions Re-
viewed
(BY DU Moan MCDON Aida

The two days session Of 0nera.
tors and miners held in this citv
Thursday and Friday of last week
was one of the warmest sessions of
operators and miners | ever at.
tended, and ended just where it
began, the miners positively re-
tuslng to violate or set aside the
contract.
Never before have l seen such
low down meth DDS resorted to as
were exhibited by some of the
operators, when argument failed
to substantiate their claim they
resorted to mud Singing bully
Raging, and even went SO far as
to produce and read Il part Of a
personal letter that had passed
between some one in this district
and John Walker of Illinois, with
view to creating discord between
the district officers and President
Lewis. Some people seem to lose
all their selfrespect the moment
they are advanced from IL section
boss or something Of that sort to a
general manager of coal company
and after the lack Of common
dccency displayed here in this
convention most people will be
forced to the conclusion that this
particular individual is more
qualified to fill the former position.
But where did Mike Roach get
this letter? He refuses to tell,
stating first that it was found on
the street and later that it came
through the mail, but more likely
the letter was stolen from the office
and the party in possession Of
stolen goods is no better than the
>neak thief who stole them. Sus.
plcion points very strongly at two
individuals and Roach has the
evidence to clear an innocent
person but refuses to reveal it,
ltut this is only in linc with
their other work, after agreeing to
pay a certain price for mining and
so forth for a period of two years
they now attempt to kick out Of
1t, and the poor down trouden
miner who is not now getting Il
decent living is asked to work for
less.
How conso]ing it must be to the
miner living in Il company shack
many Of which are un fit for human
habitatiOn, to come to Charleston
and walk up along the river front
and view the homes Of the opera
tors and realize that every day he
is being robbed of the product of
his toll in order that the operator
may live i'll a mansion and enjoy
all the good things of life.
How happy he must feel with
The approach of the christmas tide
when all should be happy and gay
and face those of the family who
Look up to the bread winners to
provide the good things to fitting
commemorate this great inter
national holiday, and be forced to
admit that through the hcartless
cruelty of u soulless corporation he
IS unable to provide anything for
inns festive occasion.
i'eace on earth good Will to men
can mean but little to the ma. .iority
"t the West Virginia miners,
when it requires Il desperate
struggle to exc out 4 miserable eN-
lStcncc.
Peace and prosperity as ech oed in
IN" daily press are but hollow
mockery to the miner living in a
>hantN more like a dog kennel.
II this is the result Of private
ownership of tha coal miners, these
private ownership is Il failure and
private ownership should be sup
planted by public ownership when
eight hours should constitute Il
days work. when the mines could
hr properly ventilated so that eN-
rt"Sl"ns should not occur, when
every house could De Il decent
habItatlun furnished with IL bath