The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-07-05
WHAT MINERS
HAVE DONE
HOSPITAL AT Gle ELUM Is
BUILT, OWNED AND MAIN
TANNED BY ORGANIZED
COAL MINERS OF THAT DIS
TRICT-A SPLENDID Ex-
AMPLE OF THE FRATERNAL
SPIRIT OF UNIONISM.

naturally makes the inquiry: "Wha'
public institution is that on yondel
hill?" The inquiry is natural because
the buildings are located on the mos
commanding site, overlooking village
easily recognized by any traveller, as {
typical coal mining town.
The answer, "That is the miners hos
pital," usually inspires a second ques
tion: 'Who endowed the institution Oh
| by what means is such splendid insti
tuition maintained in mining com.
munity?" Again the answer surprises
the inquirer when he is told that the
institution was erected and is main.
tanned by the miners unions of the To-
cality.
A visit to the hospital reveals even
greater surprises. Entering a splendid
brick structure one meets the genial su
perintendent, Mr.. Davies, himself a
miner, whose pride in the institution and
its development, inspires one with a
feeling that injured or sick miners are
made to feel at home here. Enroute
through the building one finds all the
appliances and conveniences of a mod
ern hospital in city of one hundred
thousand or more people. Splendidly
furnished private rooms for those desir-
ing privacy, wards with two, three and
four beds for convalescing patients seek
ing companionship, splendid baths, a
powerful X-ray through which the exact
nature of any injuries can be seen, an
operating room with all the modern ap-
planes necessary for the most critical
operations, tiled floor and walls, bril-
liantly lighted with electricity, well
heated and ventilated throughout and
nurses thoroughly trained in efficiency
and manifesting an interest in their pa
tients as though they were of the family.
In fact, the whole institution, including
the superintendent and his good wife
who is matron, convalescing patients,
nurses. cooks, stewards and all, feel a
personal interest in the success of the
institution and well being of its patients
This is not surprising when you realize
that ALL contribute to the finances that
support the institution, consequently
ALL are interested in its success and
all feel at home in a place that they
have financed, builded and maintained
But things were not always thus
Prior to the year 1904 there was no
miners union, no miners hospital. In
stead, doctors syndicate-an agree
ment between this syndicate and the
mine operators whereby the latter with
held $l.OO per month from every miners
wage-paid same over to the doctors
syndicate What did the miners get for
their money! The syndicate employed
two doctors to care for from three to
four thousand miners. Miners were
given such treatment as two doctors
were capable of administering to them
in their homes. If the injury was seri-
GUS one and expert surgical and hospital
attendance was necessary, miners must
go to Seattle or Tacoma, paying their
own travelling and hospital expenses.
These were the conditions which the
miners union upon its organization
sought to correct.
BY referendum vote of 1900 for to
l25 against, the miners in 1904 voted to
incorporate the Roslyn-Cle Elum Bene-
ficial association. The doctors syndi
cate and mine operators opposed their
efforts, but the graft had been so strong
that their influence could not stem the
tide of determination among the miners
for a hospital of their own.
The operators finally acquiesced and
a beginning was made. Temporary
hospital was erected and the REAL care
of the sick and injured began. The in
corporated association received the $l.00
monthly assessment which had hereto
fore presumably gone to the doctors
syndicate. Note the results. Seven
years have passed.
The Roslyn-Cle Elum Beneficial asso-
Citations report for 1910 shows assets of
$32, ,ll7.6l, chief of which are the Gle
Elum hospital and equipment and the
emergency hospital at Roslyn which Is
but three miles distant. Today the as
sociation not only gives free treatment
to injured or sick miners until such time
as they are able to return to their
work, but grants them free room, free
board, free everything while in the hos
pital. 1t likewise administers free treat
ment to the miners wife and family in
their homes, and grants them free room,
nurse and medical or surgical attention
If necessary for them to go to the hos
pital.
All this has cost the miner no more
than when the doctors syndicate was in
control-$l.00 month then and now
This is but one of the benefits obtained
by the miners since organization. The
incorporated association is governed by
eleven directors, nine of whom are min
ers and elected by mass meeting OF
miners, their only interest is the great.