The Monte Vista journal., 1913-10-25
A Statement of
Coal Strike Situation

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 membership in that or
ganizaon May 81, 1918, in the states of Colorado
Utah and New Mexico, of only 2O48 out of total of
$1,000 men employed. Approximately 1000 of these
members enrolled from the northern part of Colo
RADIO where strike had been progress for many
monhs 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 to this state and announced pub
hcy and privately that it was his purpose to bring
about the recognition OF his organization by the owners
OF all coal mines-that is it his purpose and that of
his union to compel the operators to sign form of
tract which, among other things requires and permits
the employment of union only in and about coal
mines.
Because Of this and many other stipulations in this
0called contract which is impossible OF enforcement
against the uniona voluntary, irresponsible and
corpOrated associaton-and because of the fact that
few of the men working in the mines were members of
this organization, and making no demands the
operators declined to negotiate upon the subject
Thereupon, the union official mentioned announced
that although fully empowered to do he would not
call strike to enforce his demands, but would refer
the matter to convention of representatives selected
by the miners in all the coal camps of the state. A
convention was called 1t met in Trinidad. Two hun
dred and fifty so-caed delegates present. One
hundred were striking and idle miners from northern
Colorado; 80 thereabouts officers paid en-
poyes of the union. The rest selected by those in
charge OF this convention, and in represented
the men actually at work in the Mines In few il any
Instances delegates selected by the actually
employed in the coal camps. This CONVENTION
voted to call strike, and accordingly called for
The I'D inst At that time approximately 40 per cent
Of the men engaged in and about the coal mines laid
down their TOOLS
The real and at first the frankly avowed object of
The strike leadersto compel the operators to sign the
union contract-has now for effect upon the public
"en increased to include number of demands
which properly appeal, with some force, to 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
were Voluntarily advanced 10 per cent by the operators
april 1912, and business conditions do not justify
ufther advance at this time The coal miners Of this
ae receive as high higher compensation for their
WORK than those OF any state in the Union with the
coal from which that mined in this state in
lruuon In August last the miners employed at 46 OF
e mines OF this state the records OF which avail
'oe' received an average wage OF 1884 per day, and
ney could have worked had they elected to do, 20
uas during the month at nearly every mine. The
themselves have not complained in this regard, and it
uaS M remained for union organizers from elsewhere to
discover here grievous wrong
semi-monthly pay day, eighth hour work day and
'check weighman demanded by the leaders OF the
union preclptatng this strike. 1t is not generally
own that the operators OF this state have paid their
Nen twice month for many months. An eight. hour
NOfk day was voluntarily put in force in the mines
ue time before the statute OF the state required It,
inefe IL not mine owner in Colorado who will not
pe'mlt his men to have a check wcighman Of their
''eetlon at any time, and the statute compes 1t.