Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-21

against"
District No. soon adjusted its diff
hculties in harmony with the Cieve-
4 land agreement and subsequently
wage scales were adopted in the south
western districts In the main the
provisions of the Cleveland contract
were adhered to; deviations from that
basis were slight and were counte-
nanced only because some districts
were compelled to recognize condir
tions surrounding them.
! Mr. White outlined the negotiations
for an agreement in the anthracite
| fields beginning with joint confer
ence in New York Feb. 81, and end
I ing in joint subcommittee confer
ence in New York, April "a, at which
tentative agreement was reached,
but not till after work in the mines
had been suspended. The agreement,
effective for four years, provided
among other things that the contract
rates and wage scales for all employees
shall be increased ten per cent over
the contract rates and wage scales es-
tablished by the Anthracite Coal
Strike commission as effective April
1. 1908. The provisions of the sliding
scale are by mutual consent abolish
ed Meeting of company officials at
each mine with grievance committees
from the miners to hear any com
plants that might from time to time
arise was also provided for Ina the
tentative agreement
Through some misapprehension on
the part of the rank and file of the an
thracite miners, Mr.. White said the
o<
jected but at a tri-state meeting in
Wilkesbarre. Pa, May IA, all misun-
Outstanding was swept away and by
almost unanimous vote the agreement
was ratified.
Never before in the history of the
anthracite mine workers." said Mr..
White, has there been such phenome-
nal success following wage negotia-
tons. In past years, the anthracite
mine worker manifested his activity
in small way prior to the negotia-
tions and lapsed into Indifference af-
terward. In this instance, the reverse
of that was true, and the growth of
the anthracite mine workers organ
ization within the past two years is
in the history of our
nHoy ement. / wish to commend the
of the anthracite districts for
their fine loyalty to our union.7
On the West Virginia strike, Mr.
White said:
''The strike in West Virginia in the
Paint and Cabin Creek districts in the
early spring of 1912, was probably
one of the greatest industrial con-
ficts in which our organization has
ever engaged in that the issues were
vital, fundamental and affected human
The brutal tactics employed
by the coal companies and their arm
ed guards and the attitude of the gov
ernor and the courts toward the strik-
srs and their families aroused the ma
lion.
This strike was marked with a
good deal of violence which can be
iirectly attributed to the methods of
he coal operators, who employed hun
ireds of armed gun men, as they have
lone for years to brutalize and muir
Ter, If necessary, these defenseless
people and prevent them from enjoy
ng the rights and privileges accord
ID the citizens of any great common
wealth.
Unprecedented assumption of au-
hority was exercised by the governor.
William E. Glasscock, who seemed .
Wholly unable to resist the encroach-
nent of the invisible interests that
ave long domineered West Virginia's
olitical and industrial affairs. His
curse in declaring martial law; es-
ablishing the military court; suspend
ng all constitutional rights; denying
he writ of habeas corpus and trial by
Try, ignoring the fact that in this
cry zone the civil courts were open
, all offenders except the striking (.
line workers, is probably without
arallel in our country.
The strike lasted for nearly six
cen months and the suffering of our
eople was great and the persecution
Governor Glasscock might have
lade for himself name that would
We in the history of the state, but he
hose to aid the powerful interests IA
leir fight against the legitimate aims
nd purposes of labor"
Senator John w. Kern of Indiana
as commended by Mr. White for IN
the. resolution which the
enate adopted for investigation of
lie West Virginia strike.
.iticised for sending troops into the
ate on account of the strike of coal
liners there. The governor was also
iarged with failure to keep a prom
g not to allow importation Of strike
'eakers. THE conduct of the troops
the strike zone is a disgrace" said
r. White, land the outrages they
I've committed on defenseless people
e unspeakable. The spirit of the
orkers is militant and they are de-
rmined to fight on till they are ac-
rded the rights provided by the con-
tuition"
President White said relations or the
nited Mine Workers and the West
n Federation of Miners were very
rdial and he deplored the attack
ade on President Meyer of the West