The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-12-09
Report Of Committee.

union. fix thu wage scales Tor al,
states where the union II recognized
Report Of Committee.
The report OF the mining inyesti
cation commission. based on evi
dence. says the West Virginia opera
tors are within their rights in rerIs
.ug 20 deal with the miners union so
louE as the miners and operators OF
other states reserve the right TO FIX
the scale OF wages TO be- paid in West
Virginia. In ihe opinion OF these
other states-Ohio. Western Pennsyl-
vania. Indiana and Ulinois-West Nir-
ginia's coal should still remain I'M
touched IT was an economic blund-
or" they say. hat the West Virginia
properties were ever touched. The
bulk OF IN" West Virginia coal is
easier mined than the coal in any
q the other states. but II has IFS
freight dinerentials to overcome. Its
coal must be- carried into the mar
kets that The Goals Of the four com
peting states find an outlet. The life
OF the West Virginia operator. there
for depends on his ability 20 remain
without the grasp OF the combination
that he knows Is determined to crush
him. and who ne knows has been try
ing to do il FOR a dozen years. and
on several occasions had the West
Virginia operator graspiug for breath.
The situation in tho Cabin and
Paint Creeks section a. thNs time has
ceased To be- q COutcst on a question
or wages or one az recognition OF the
union IN order to give union men en-
plOyment. Every union miner in the
ha district can 20 TO work in
a union mine tomorrow morning II he
wants TO work. lie won't have To go
many square 10 enter the mine from
Where he Is now liying-and IN mines
with tho managers Of whom his union
has signed a scale. In several in
tances these operators are trying TO
operate their mines with the few men
Who have returned 10 work and who
have aspect FOR the contract made BY
their superior %officers. Hundreds OF
miners. however. are rolling In filth
in tents until under threats OF arrest
are forced to take "A hand in cleaning
mp after being shown how by the
young milltiamen. o. more often re-
Gently have been found C~ongregating
about railroad stations and threaten
ing the lives OF men who desired 10
work n provide decently for their
families.
- Will he recalled the trouble on
cabin Cr.ck was not a case Of the
union men walking ott Of the mines.
l. has been "a number II years since
tho operators dealt with the United
Wine Workers on that creek. where
many thousands Of miners are en-
ployed. n WAS IN" meuacinE rifle I'm
the lands II those who wanted the
mines closed down on cabin creek
that sent the men out Of half u the
forty odd mines aioni that stream.
Fearful 81 he INSCRIPTIONS 81 these
miners loft tho district. In fact sew
cral thousand lett the district and
sought employment elsewhere. A. \
rule these were of tn, Very hest class
Of miners. They went to other nom
union mines. After having driven out
-" miners M the point % the rifle
IL then became the duty ~ tine same
interruptions gang TO prevent mcn
coming in 10 take th, places mad, Va
cant. and again the state had 10 step
ir to protect life and property. and
60 permit West Virginia coal men to
operate" their mines under conditions.
proven los th" records. 90 poe Tar NOR.
profitable than tho.- 100 any other
Goa producin- state In tho entire IN
ion.
Whv don't tho anton men return TO
work IN Tho mines. their union has
signed th" m'nt with. and thus
permit such recogl iz"d union mines
{" operate The operators who have
stoHdfastlv refused 90 sign any agree
u.ent with 'hc United Mine workers
ar" now reminding those who id not
sign or fust what would occur.
The tactics pursued by tho miners
wh' refuse Co. work IS Intended 20
GREAT" e,mrdthy through the use 81
ID