The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-09-17
OPERATORS


Dou~unlOn men, ana also who would see
that The men returned to work In the
svont there was a settlement OF the
alleged differences. The operators
chained that n they agreed to the
Governors plan II would require them
TO 90 into blind" arbitration, with
out knowing In advance the questions
TO b submitted.
1T would even allow the arbitrators
10 take up for decision the question
q the reception OF the union. We
cannot agree to such a plan" say the
Operators.
opsrstors' Views
They aliege the whole trouble has
been started by the union for the pur-
pose OF gaining recognition and that
The operators close their reply with
the following paragraph:
As matter OF fact, the mines Of
many OF the operators are running
regularly. and In some instances there
are no men on the property who are
not at work. At the other mines there
are few, any. members Of the United
Mine Workers OF America. and the
men who are idle there have been
IDLE not nom choice. but because they
have been afraid TO work We have
none but non-union employees. Mem.
bers OF the United Mine Workers OF
America who were formerly In our
employment are no longer employed,
and nearly ell OF them have left our
I've have always been ready. and
now are, TO consider any question that
might arise between ourselves and our
employees Al present We have no DIFF.
ferencos or controversy with them
and on the contrary believe that they
are In full sympathy with our de.
termination not to LEI United Mine
Workers Of America organize the coal
Industry OF West Virginia and thereby
put US In the power OF our compel.
itors In Ohio. Indiana. Illinois and
western Pennsylvania.
What IL said above represents our
sincere convictions and we regret that
We cannot accept and act upon your
proposal"
Governors Ideas.
The letter of acceptance of Gov
ernor Glasscock's proposition that
each side name one arbitrator and the
two name n third; that the miners re
turn to work at once upon the same
terms as existed at the time they quit
work; that the. mine guard system be
abandoned; that the operators may
employ respectable bona fide citizens
as watchmen or guards; that the md
-ings OF the arbitrators be binding upon
both sides. was signed by President
Thomas Cairnes and Secretary J. NJ
Craigo, United Mine Workers OF
America. District II. The operators
did not recognize the strikers as
men In their employ. and while some
OF the mines are running the output
on Cabin Creek and Paint Creek Is
but between ten and fifteen per cent
OF the average, although about thirty
OF the seventy mines on the two
creeks are mining some coal. The
operators place the recognition OF the
union above any increase In wages.
The April Compromise.
In April last after the miners. as Z
fna compromise proposition. agreed
to return to work at the old sca'e
providing they were given the check
on. the operators came back with al
offer OF two and one-half cents OF
pick and one and one-half cents pei
ton for machine mining. 1.-THE check
on was waived, and that scale wa
signed by the operators that recog
nized the union. which included prac
tically all the mines in the Kanawhi
district with the exception OF thos'
on Cabin and Paint creeks. The re
fusai of the operators to arbitrate th'
differences. according TO the miners
means the mine guard system, thu
docking system, the check-off and thu
abolition OF the excessive charges 10
foodsfuffs at the company stores. an'
many other questions, with the oper
atorh drawing the line by saying unicr
men are no longer in their employ
and they don't propose TO emplo!
them, and that the non-union mel
have not complained and have no
asked FOR arbitration. has prompte,
Governor Glasscock 20 take up tn
suggestion Of q number OF Boards o
Trade, Business Mems Associations
Trade and Labor Assemblies and 9th
or commercial and Industrial bodiei
20 call a Statewide mass meeting II
this city TO discuss the strike ques
ton and endeayor 10 bring about al
adjustment that will permit the troop
20 leave the territory and a resump
ton OF operations.
The Governor issued his call thi
afternoon for n meeting In the caDito
building Saturday. September p, q
which all representative coal opera
tors. coal miners. representatives o
the civic. commercial and industria
bodies Of the State are invited. ~
the purpose Of discussing and takini