The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-10-25

Prior TO the calling of the present
coal strike, no substantial differences
existed between the mine owners and
their workmen.. Only small minority
of the miners were members of any
union. The United Mine Workers of
America claimed a membership in that
organization on May 81, 1918, in the
states of Colorado, Utah and New
Mexico. of only 2,o4s. out Of total of
%. 900 men employed. approximately
! l,000 of these members We're enrolled
from the northern part of Colorado
where strike had been in progress for
many months and 1000 from points
elsewhere in this state and in Utah and
New Mexico. Some weeks ago one Of
the officials of the United Mine Workers
came to this state, and announced pub
| licly and privately that it was his pur-
pose to bring about the recognition
of his organization by the owners
of all coal mines, that is, it was his
purpose and that of his union to com
pei the operators to sign form of
] toiii dAt "h'Sli, aiiiohS otiCA iC-
quires and permits the employment of
union men only in and about coal mines
Because of this and many other stip
ulations in this so-called contract, which
! is impossible of enforcement against
the union voluntary, irresponsible
! and uninc orporated association and
because of the fact that few of the
men working in the mines were men,
bers of this organization, and were max
ing no demands, the operators declined
to negotiate upon the subject.
| Thereupon, the union official men
toned announced. that although fully
empowered so to do, he would not call
strike TO enforce his demands, but
would refer the matter to a convent ion
OF representatives selected by the min
ers in all the coal camps Of the state.
| A convention was called. 1t met in
| Trinidad. Two hundred and fifty So
called delegates were present. One
hundred were striking and idle miners
from Northern Colorado; 50 or there
abouts were officers or paid employees
of the union. The rest were selected
| by those in charge of this convention,
and in no sense represented the m-n
actually at WORK IN the mines. IN few,
| if any, instances were delegates selec.
ted by the men actually employed in
the coal camps. This CONVENTION
voted to call strike and it was ac-
cordingly called for the 23d INST. At
that time approximately 80 percent of
the men engaged in and about the coal
mines laid down their tools. The real,
and at first the frankly ayowed, object
of the strike leaders to compel the
operators to sign the contract has now,
for effect upon the public been increased
to include number of new demands
which properly appeal, with some force.
to all right thinking men who are 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 were voluntari-
ly advanced 10 percent by the opera
tors in April, 1919, and business condi.
tions do not justify further advance
at this time. The coal miners of this
state receive as high. or higher COM
pensation for their work than those of
any stat- in the Union with the coal
from wnich that mined in this state
comes in competition. In Aug6t last,
the miners employed at 46 of the mines
of this state, the records of which are
available. received an average wage of
1884 per day, and they could have
worked, had they elected SO to do, 26
days during the month at nearly every
nine The men themselves had not
complained in this regard and 1t has re-
NAMED for union organizers from else
where to discover here prieyous
wrong.
A seml-monthly pay day. an eight
hour work day and a check weiphman
are demanded by the leaders of the
union precipitating this strike. It is
not generally known that the operators
OF this tate have paid their men twice
month for many months. An eight
hour work dsy was voluntarily put in
force IN the mines some time before
the statute of the state required it.
lhere is not mine owner in Colorado
VINO Will not permit his men to have a
check weighman of their own se,eetion
at any time, and the statute compels
it.
Much is made of the alleged denial Of