New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-09
Evidence from Operators.

While the names Of the witnesses
| who appeared before the federal grand
| jury in the case have not been made
! public. II IS known that coal Operators
, Of Paint and Cabin creeks. where labor
troubles have been abundant. and for
mer officials Of the miners organizl-
ton assisted in gathering Information
for the indictments
The defendants are charged with at
tempting TO create a monopoly OF the
| labor market by fixing prices and re-
iusing TO allow members Of the organ
izatiOn TO work a. lower wages. II is
/ alleged the union prohibits men from
working who are not members Of thu
organization and that the miners Off
Gals conspired to unioHize the coal
mines OF West Virginia and SO to fix
the cost Of producing coal in West Vir-
Sinid as TO give an advantage to the
producers Of Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
1t is charged that the mines in the
last named four states are already
unionized and the United Mine Work
ers Of America control wage scales
and that the defendants conSpired with
coal producers Of Western Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois 10
give them monopoly Of the coal trade
in the Great Lake region and other
Western markets.
,.l4 (
fences in Kanawha County. W. Va
starting on September /, 1912. and
continuing since that date.
Restriction Alleged.
The indictment alleges that coal pro-
duced in West Virginia, especially in
Kanawha County, is shipped in compe-
tition with coal mined in the other
states Of the competitive field TO the
cities Of Cincinnati. Columbus. Toledo
and Cleveland. Ohio; Detroit, IndIanap-
oils and Chicago, and that the con
templated organization Of the West
Virginia miners is to restrict the sale
Of the West Virginia coal in these
markets.
II is further stated that not more
than IL per cent Of the coal output Of
West Virginia ID consumed within the
state and the balance is shipped to
other markets in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin.
The object and purpose Of the Unit
ed Mine Workers is to fix wages to be
paid TO laborers and TO refuse to allow
said laboreTs 10 work unless said wages
are paid" the complaint further reads.
1t is contended in the Indictment
that there has been acute competition
between the operators of West Virginia
and the operators Of Pennsylvania,
Ohio. Indiana and Illinois for the mar
kets in Canada and the Great Lakes
trade. II is charged that the mines in
| the competitive states are unionized'
dominated by the United Mine Work
ers. and the coal operators of Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio, Indiana and Illinois nave
entered Into a combination and con-
, spiracy with the miners union wherein
the alleged conspirators have agreed TO
prohibit the coal mined in West Viz
ginia from entering the Lakes markets
| and Canada"
The alleged conspiracy, il is stated,
has resulted in much violence and law
| lessness at the mines Of the West Nir~
ginia operators on Paint and Cabin
creeks. Loss of life and destruction OF
! property called for martial law.
THE indictments" said Governor II.
ID. Hatfield Of West Virginia to-day.
come as a complete surprise 10 me.
AS to conditions in the Paint and
Continued on fourth pags- fourth column.