The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-04-03
WHITES PROPOSAL
FOR SETTLING OF
COAL MINE STRIKE
CHARLESTON. W. Va. March 81.

Sonn = White. president OF the United
Mine Workers or America, the largest
ana most powerful independent labor
organization In the world. having with
In It's fold a membership OF 45o, 900
miners and mine workers. submitted
70 Crovernor HATFIELD, as a basis OF
settlement OF the strike that has ex.
listed in the Paint and Cabin Creek
mining districts for the past ten
months. the following concrete pro-
Charleston. W. Va, March IS. 1913.
Henry D. Hatfield.
Governor OF West Virginia.
Charleston, W. Va
Dear Sir: There has existed In
the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek min
ing districts for the past several
months an industrial conflict Of great
The miners are engaged in this
struggle TO better their conditions OF
employment and to try to secure that
which is conceded tlem under the
laws OF the State OF West Virginia,
namely the right TO belong to q la
Dor organization without discrimina-
ZION: the semi-monthly pay day; the
selection of check weighmen TO Sc
cure honest weights. To have their
coal weighed and that 1000 pounds
shall constitute ton.
Aside from the question OF wages
involved In this dispute. these funda-
mentals are accorded the miners by
law, yet the state has spent during this
period. so | am informed. more than
100000 In the use OF it's military in
the maintenance Of martial law. and
probably the great public does not
understand that the things above re-
ferred 10 were enacted into law for the
protection of the miners, and many
no doubt are under the impression
mat these laws are tu;Hlled and the
miners are receiving that which was
contemplated by law. hut such is not
tne case except In that part OF the
hanaNha district and elsewhere which
are covered by Joint agreement be-
tween operators and miners. and the
very low wages prevailing in the I'M
organized fields. together with the
evils of the commissary owned and
controlled by the coal companies.
make the conditions OF the miners
most deplorable.
suppose there is no question as to
the ability OF either party to the dis
pute To continue this struggle indefi-
nitely until one or the other gains SUI
premacy, and realizing as we always
do that the public is concerned in
these disputes and that IL We are TO
prevent this industrial conflict from
becoming state wide. We must take
prompt action. and in order that our
position may be made known and that
the public may thoroughly understand
who is responsible for the conditions
that might obtain and in the interest
or industrial peace We offer the follow
ing proposition as a solution OF the
situarion.
That the operators whose mines
are now affected by the strike shall
agree.
'F1rst-That there shall be no dis
elimination against mine workers for
Joining the organization. and all EN-
ploves shall return TO work
Second-To the establishment OF
the n!ne-hour work day. which shall
apply 10 all classes of labor in and
around 'he mines
"Th.rd-To the semi-monthly pay
dav.
.Fourth-That the miners at any
mine shall be accorded the right TO
select i check weichman. and On &C
ccrdance With the state law all coal
shall be weighed and 1000 pounds
sholl constitute a ton
'F1fth-TEat there shall he a Joint
commission. consisting CT fire repre-
s"n'atives from ea,. size. each size
20 choose its own members The du-
ties OF this commission will he TO ad-
Just the wages - all men employed AZ
tay work In and around the mines.
determine The N ming prices. yardase.
etc. nn1 crdeavor 70 arrive al an
equitable. relative, competitive basis
and 10 provide rulrs and methods for
70" adjustment q disputes between
ne employees and the coal cOmpan.
les
In order 70 avoid any failure 10
agree a board % arbitration. consist.
ing ~ three members. shall be Gre
at"ed. one member 20 De C'IOsen BY the
operators side ~ the commission and
one by the miners side. these two 20
s"!ect the third member. VINO must he
= disinterested party and non-resi-
Alt ~ the state This board ~ arb
..dtion shall meet with the commits
sion and any question that tho com
mission h unable 70 agree upon shall
be referred 20 said board Of arbitra-
ton for settlement whose decision
shall be FINAL and binding on all par.
ties
The findings ~ this commission
shall date from me time work : re-
sumcd md shall continue In effect un-
~ April !. 1915
Respectfully.
'siznedi "IOHN = WHITE.
iTes dent United Mine Workers Of
America
Afide from the question OF wages
there is nothing invo,ved in this dis.
pute TINT can Do arbItratcI The other
questions involved are fundamentals
granted tho minors hy stsfufor, law
and question ~ law cannot be- arbi.
t~atsf
80 eiate ln The union has been 70
richly lowered with natural wealth
ne West virginia our bitumlnous coal
folds contain tho highest grade ~
steafuirg cooking End cooking coal IN
the world West Virginia has lc.2k1
square miles ~ marketable coal she