Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-10-24
a Statement Of the
Coal Strike Situation

Prior to the calling of the present coal strike.
substantial differences existed between the mine
and their workmen. Only small minority of the
miners members of any union. The United Mine
Workers of America claimed membership in that or
ganizaton on May 81 1878 in the states OF Colorado
Utah and New Mexico of only 2,o4S, of total of
$4,000 men employed Approximately 1000 of these
members enrolled from the northern part of Colo
RADIO. where strike had been in progress for many
months; and from points elsewhere in this state
and in Utah and New Mexico.
Some weeks ago of the officials of the United
Mine Workers came to this state and announced public
ly and privately that it his purpose to bring about
the recognition of his organization by the of all
coal mineshat is. it his purpose and that of his
union to compel the operators sign form of contract
which, among other things, requires and permits the
employment of union only in and about coal
mines.
Because OF this and many other stipuations in this
socaed contract which is impossible of enforcement
against the uniona voluntary, irresponsible and unin-
corporaed associationand because of the fact that few
of the working in the mines members of this
organization, and making demands, the opera
tors declined to negotiate upon the subject
Thereupon the union official mentioned announced
that, although fully empowered to do, he would not
call strike enforce his demands but would refer the
matter to convention of representatives selected by the
miners in all the coal camps of the state convention
called. 1t met in Trinidad. Two hundred and fifty
so-caed delegates present One hundred
striking and idle miners from northern Colorado so
Whereabouts officers paid employees of the union.
The selected by those in charge of this
venton, and in represented the actually
work in the mines. In few, if any, instances
delegates selected by the actually employed in the
coal camps. This CONVENTION voted to call a strike
and it accordingly called for the 25d inst. that
time approximately so per cent of the engaged in
and about the coal camps laid down their tools.
The real and the frankly avowed object of the
strike eaderso compel the operators sign the union
contracthas now for effect upon the public been in
creased to include number of demands which
properly appeal with force all right thinking
men who not definitely advised of the facts.
An advance of 10 per cent in wages is demanded.
This cannot be conceded. The wages of the miners
voluntarily advanced per cent by the operators
in April 1912, and business conditions do Justify
further advance this time The coal miners of this
state receive high higher compensation for their
work than those of any in the Union with the coal
from which that mined in this in competi-
ton In August last the miners employed 46 of the
mines OF this state, the records of which available,
received an wage of s5.S4 per day and they
could have worked, had they elected do 26 days
during the month nearly every mine The
themselves have not complained in this regard and
has remained for union organizers from elsewhere to
discover here grievous wrong.
semi-monthly pay day, eight-hour work day
and a check weighman demanded by the leaders of
the union precipitang this strike. II is not generally
known that the operators of this have paid their
men twice month for many months. An eight hour
work day was voluntarily put in force in the mines
some time before the statute of the required it.
There is not mine in Colorado who will not per-
NIT his men 10 have check weighInan of their
selection at any time and the statute compels it.