The chronicle=news., 1913-11-14


FOR the past two months u strike
has existed in the coal mining in-
4 dustry OF ColoradO. As a direct re-
suit OF this strike human lives have
been sacrificed. many thousands OF
inborinK men thrown out OF employ
ment. property destroyed. business
conditions have become depressed.
the price of coal has been advanced.
the reputation and credit Of the state
q; home ana abroad Is being I'm
paired. ana the public at iarE. is
being made To suffer beyond aerur-
ate calculation. These unfortunate
conditions are not In harmony with
the peace. prosperity asd general
welfare that Is supposed to he guar
antccd To all men and to all institu-
tons alik. under In. constitution Of
| thus state and OF the United States.
| For the purpose. therefore. Of try
ing TO arrive at method Of assist
ing In terminating this industrial
conflict between the miners and the
I
b. in accordance with the laws oil
Colorado enacted to regulate the coal
mining industry. tn. newspapers OF
Colorado represented. acting on be-
| In Denver. ana after hearing the ar
, kliments and statement. Of r.pr...n-
| tat,vcs Of III. coal mine owners. of
| the coal miners. and of the United
statement from Tn. governor OF this
state. aud having given extensive
consideration to each and every one
of these statements. and having
weighed thcir cffcc, fully End care.
fully. the ncwspsFcrx Represented
have agreed upon general and a
united policy Of action. to h. rec
| opimcndcd to the Ir.ss OF Colorado.
with reference to the termination OF
| this strike. based upon the authority
| OF the existing state law-.
Before stating our conclusions. We
desire first to state the cause Of the
strike, viz, the demands made by
the miners upon the coal mia. own
ers OF Colorado. which ar. as foliows:
The Demands Of the Miners.
rlrs,-wo demand recognition OF
the union.
advance in wages on the tonnas"
rates ana the following day wage
| scale. which is practically in accord
with the Wyoming Gay wag. scale.
, rhird-wc demand an eight-houT
work day for all classes OF labor In
or around the coal mines and at coke
ovens.
Fourth--Wc demand pay for al!
narrow work ana dend work. which
includes brushing. timbering. remo'-
ing falls. handling impurities. etc.
Fifth-We demand chcck-weigh-
men at all mines. to he elected by
the miners without any interference
by company officials in said election.
SiNth-Wc demand the right to-
trade in any store and the right to-
choose our own boarding place and
our own doctor.
Seventh-we demand the enforce
ment OF the Colorado mining laws
and the aboitshment of the notorious
and criminal guard system which has
| prevailed in the mining camps OF
4 Ynr
First Demand: Recognition Of Union.
with reference to the first de-
mand, We submit the following facts
ana conclusions;
The question of the official rec
/ ognition OF any labor organization
or labor union by any employers oil
| labor is n question not reached or
controlled by law. but must mutual
~ be desired by both employer and
| employe to become a recognized real
ity. In other words, II employers do
not desire to recognize a labor union
as an organization in the employ
ntit of members OF that union,
| there is no law upon the statute
hooks which can or Will compel them
to do so.
we have come to the conclusion,
therefore,, that the first deniand
made by the miners is not one which
can be arbitrated by any body Of
mediators. Tor the reason that, as
/ stated above. ii must be matter mii-
italy desired and agreed to by EN-
ployer and employe. However, so