United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-04-08
Miners DisC|aim
Blame For Strike
Employees Plead Increased Cost
of Living in Stand for
More Pay.

Like all other strikes in the coal fields,
the one of the United Nine Workers of
America in northern Colorado has set
statements and counter statements,
charges and counter charges. The min
ers have offered to leave the engineers
and pumpmen at work If they were
granted the increase desired, but the op-
orators were afraid TO sign with part
of the nen, fearing Complications in the
courts. so they claim. The operators are
now swearing in deputies to guard the
mines and are instructing their employees
who are not members of the U. NJ of A.
in operating the pumps and engines.
The miners claim they have treated
the operators fairly at all times, and
have taken no undue advantage. The
officials of the U. NJ W of A. have is
sued lengthy statement, which, in part,
is as follows:
THE operators -,onceal the point
raised by the miners that the constantly
increasing cost of the necessities of life
is a just and sufficient reason why the
price of their labors should also be ad-
vanced, but advance the argument that
unjust freight rates will not permit them
to pay more wages
THE state railroad commission has
just handed down a decision granting the
coal operators of northern Colorado
reduction of % cents ton on their rates
to Denver.
THE miners in their demands in the
special national convention held in Gin
cinnati March Is to % have asked for an
advance of $50 per cent.
The operators appear to be very sem
sitive when it is suggested that the price
of Ignite coal will in the near future ad-
vance from 25 to so cents per ton. They
evidently would have the public believe
that there is no danger of the cost of
coal going up. but let US stop moment
and see why coal was reduced from s5
to its present rate The coal operators
of the northern field had a falling out
among themselves; theresult was coal
war, which has been Il existence for ten
and one-hah months but the war is
ended and the white-winged dove of
peace once more hovers over the cper-
ators' council chambers.
Freight Reduction.
They are going 10 receive a reduction
in their freight rates of 25 cents a ton,
and without question they will demand
the ensuing year from the consumers of
domestic coal an Increase OF from % TO
IS cents per ton, then added to that they
politely suggest that the miners accept
reduction in vases because the in
creased cost of living is not their fault
The operators Of northern Colorado
are responsible for the strike. and have
placed themselves upon record as being
the first operators association in the
United States to deny their employees the
right to a living wage, as the operators
in every other district in the United
States where agreements expired March
81 have conceded 10 their miners de-
mands of 5.55 per cent. increase de
manded by the Cincinnati convention.
The operators OF the nonunion fields
of wes. Virginia and Kentucky have
granted the men Who don't belong to
the union an advance of 6is cents per
ton. and it is quietly rumored that the
operators of southern Colorado and New
Mexico are about to grant an advance of
five cents per ton to the miners of both
fields
The fact that there is very little coal
mined in the northern field of Colorado
during the spring and summer months
places the 5000 United Mine Workers
now on strike in the position of so many
men and boys taking vacation; instead
of working two or Tree half days week
the miners are quiet and orderly as good
citizens should be, out with determina'
ton that cannot be questioned to win the
strike.
"(Signedl
FRANK SMITH.
"President District 10.