The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1913-10-24

did over the kanawha. yet. We pay
no toll 10 cross the Elk bridges, but
do pay Sc every time we cross the
Kanawha. We need the bridges over
the Elk river but we do not need the
capitalist whose only function is to
take his rake-off. We need the brld9-
es over the Kanawha, TOO. but We do
not need the capitalist. and the bridg-
eS over the Elk proves his n0nenuty
other than as a parasite upon the
body polite.
We need public ownership of the
coal mines even more than We do the
bridges and the government can furn-
ISL the necessary capital to run them,
besides we must not lose sight Of the
fact that coal mining is wealth pro-
ducine." and every individual mine,
no matter how remote, is in itself self
sustaining.
Let us take case to-Wit: Here is
q mine that employees one hundred
miners. besides so other laborers. in
Guiding engineers, electricians and
clerks. They turn out on an average
of 500 tons of coal per day. which will
bring at the tipple $3.50 per ton. or
$4,000. This $4,000, let us say
now belongs TO the State. Who is So
ira 70 determine the hours OF labor
and the wages to be paid? First, the
miners themselves shall determine
how many hours they shall work; and,
second. the law of supply and demand
will determine what their wages shall
be
We have Just seen that one nun
dred miners and fifty other IaborerS
have by their joint labor, produced 500
tons Of coal, let US say in ten hours,
and which is worth at the tipple
$4,000. Let us now deduct from
this soc per ton for miners wages.
which is an average Of five tons TO
each miner, would make $500 per
day. Four dollars per day for one
hundred men would be $4,000. We
will now deduct S4.00 per day for 80
wage workers makes another SOU,
making a total Of $6000G deducted
out OF the $3.50 for wages. We still
have $4,000. Out Of this let us de-
duct $4,000 for general repairs, S2o.00
for a sick and disability fund, S25.O0
for an old age pension fund, and We
still have $1,000 left, which We can
put into q general sinking fund winch
can he used for any purpose the State
may see fl.
UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
Here is a mine employing the same
number Of men which turns out the
amount of coal and which sells for the
same price. $3.50. THIS $3.50 belongs
to the capitalist. Who is going TO de-
ternine the hours of labor and the
wales 10 be paid now? The capltai-
;sr is the sole monarch and master
He says you SHALL work 10 hours
Der dav." And "40c per ton is the
wage he pays, and all other wages
in and about the mines shall be re@u-
lated accordingly" Forty cents per
ton which is an average Of five tons
ner miner. will make $500 per day
Two dollars per day for one hundred
men would make S20O.
If actual miners can live on Sz.oV
per day. laborers, engineers electro
clans and clerks can, too, 50 he says
$500 per day shall be the wages pal"
to the other fifty mine workers. "hlcn
in all makes a total Of $500, Three
hundred dollars deducted out OF o'?0
leaves the capitalist in possession y
$3.50. Out of this let US deduct 81"
DER day to maintain the Pre'oFIah
Military Guard, $50 per day Tor a
campaign fund to be devided equally
between the Democrats and RepuoI-
can politicians; the same to be used 10
h,v votes and corrupt and deoauch
rhe LEGISLATORS, and still another szo