Semi-weekly herald., 1913-11-20

therefore, that the first demand made
by the miners is not one which can
be arbitrated by any body of medi-
ators, for the reason that, as stated
above, it must be a matter mutually
desired and agreed to by employer
and employe.
May Join Union.
However, so long as individua
workmen in the employ of coal mine
owners desire to belong to a union
|. they have a perfect right to do SO.
This right is guaranteed them by the
laws of the state, and therefore this
first demand for official recognition
lea, as such, should not be further
pressed by the members of that or
ganization in accepting declaration
on which this strike should now be
terminated. However, the right of
the miners to belong to union un-
der the authority of the laws of Colo
RADIO should be recognized and upheld,
and should not be objected to by any
employer of labor.
Second demand-A wage increase
of 10 per cent.
Fourth demand-Additional pay
for additional and varied work.
In our judgment these two demands
shn,rId hn ;,xt- r,. Il
mand, especially as both the second
and fourth demands contemplate a
higher net income in wages for the
miners, and our conclusion is, there
fore, that these demands should be
consolidated and considered under
one general proposition.
Committees Conclusion.
With reference to this general
wage demand, therefore, our conclus-
ions are as follows:
The amount of money a miner can
earn depends on the amount of work
he can or is willing to perform. In
published advertisement over the
name of the United Mine Workers of
America, which recently appeared in
the Denver newspapers, statemen
was made to the effect that all the
miners wanted was "a living wag
and the enforcement of the laws al
fecting the coal mining industry"
The question very properly arises,
thArafnra 10, ,.rbn 81, h..
sidered living wage.
The average wage earned by the
individual coal miners working in all
parts of Colorado, as published in
the advertisements of the coal mine
owners, we find to be approximate
ly 81 per day, practically $105 per
day, or less, if they choose This is
said to include the wages earned by
good, bad and Indifferent miners.
The wages of some miners is said
to run as low as 1925 per day, while
other miners individually earn over
| 81 per day.
Wage Comparison.
A comparison of the average coal
| miners wage for the entire state, of
"a per day, with the wages earned by
other classes of laboring men in Colo
RADIO who are equally skilled with a
coal miner, shows that if the aver
age wages of all coal miners in Colo
vaHn is GIuh month thnx,
being paid, in our belief, what has
been referred to as living wage; in
fact that they are already being paid
wage entirely in keeping with the
wages paid for other classes of labor
in Colorado.
Therefore, taking the miners at
their published word, we believe that
their original demand for a 10 per
cent increase over the present Colo
RADIO scale, and which as later modi-
fled in their advertisement to de-
mand for living wages, has already
been met by the payment of the ex-
listing scale of wages for mining coal
in this state, and which is higher in
the net wages earned than in any
other state. Therefore, this, the Sec
ond and fourth demand upon the part
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea for living wages, is now being
given the miners by the coal mine
owners.
Eight-Hour Demand.
Third demand-An eight-hour day
for all classes of labor in and around
the coal mines and at coke ovens.
This third demand is one which is
guaranteed to miners employed in un-
derground mines by the laws of Colo
RADIO. If the laws of this state have
been disregarded' in the the employ
ment of labor in the coal mining in
dustry, it is the duty of the governor
to enforce this law, and in this he
should he heartily supported.
Therefore, our conclusion with ref
erence to the third demand on the
part of the miners employed in un-
derground mines is that it should be