The Elk Mountain pilot., 1913-10-09

all coal mincs-that is, it was his
purpose and that of his union to
compel the operators to sign form
of contract which, among other
things requires and permits the en-
ployment of union men only in and
about. coal mines.
Because of this and many other
stipulations in this so-called con-
tract, which is impossible OF enforce
ment against the union, voluntary
irresponsible and unincorporated as
sociation, and because of the fact
that a few of the men working in
mines were members of this organl-
zation, and were making no de-
mands, the operators declined to
negotiations upon the subject.
Thereupon, the union official
mentioned announced that, although
I fully empowered so to do, he would
not call strike to enforce his de-
mands, but would refere the matter
to convention of representatives Sc
! lected by the miners in all the coal
camps of the State. a convention
was called. 1t met in Trinadad.
$50 so-called delegates were present.
100 were striking and idle miners
from nothern Colorado; so or there
abouts were officers or paid employees
of the union. The rest were selected
bythose in charge of this convention,
and in no sense represented the men
actually at work in the mines. In
few, if any instances were delegates
selected by the men actually employed
( in the coal camps. This convention
voted to call n strike, and it was
accordingly called for the 23rd inst.
At that time approximately so per-
cent of the men engaged in and
about the coal mines laid down their
tools.
The real, object of the strike
leaders-to compel the operators to
!, sign the union contract-has now :,
for effect on the public been in
creased to include number OF new
demands which properly appeal,
with some force, to all right think
ing men who are not definitely adj
vised of the facts.
An advance of 10 percent in
wages is demanded. This cannot
be conceded. The wages of the
miners were voluntarily advanced
ten percent by the operators in
April, 1912. and business conditions
do not Justify further advance at
this time. The coal miners of this
state receive as high, or higher,
compensation for their work than
those of any state in the union with
the coal from which that mined IN
this state comes in competition. In
August last, the miners employed
at 46 of the mines of this state, the
records of which are available, re-
ceived an average wages OF ,S3:S4
per day, and they could have
worked, had they elected so to do,
26 days during the month at nearly
every mine. The men, themselves
have not complained in this regard,
and it has remained for union organ
izers from elsewhere to discover here
O. grievous wrong.
A semi-monthly pay day, an eight
hour work day ard check weigh
man are demanded by the leaders OF
the union ,precipitating this strike.
1t is not generally known that the
operators of this state have paid
their men twice month for many
months. An eight-hour day was
voluntarily put in force in the mines
sometime before the statute OF the
state required it. There is not a
mine owner in Colorado who will
not permit his men to have check
weighnlan of their own selection al
apy time and the statute compels it
Much is made of the alleged denia
, of the obvious right of the miners te
trade with whom and where they