The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-11
THE VITAL ISSUE IN
THE MINE CONTROVERSY

miners and operators of Ohio. was held
N N columbus last summer. such a con-
ference has been held every two years
Tor twenty years. Every past confer
enee has agreed upon wage rate for
Columbus conference, however a Joint
agreement OF miners and operators
the new spti-.crs.1 ~ " taStor was
Withdrew from the conference.
The miners themselves remained.
them Their aim was to nx "A rate for
mining that would be the equivalent.
actment OF the new law. A scale OF az
cents, as an equivalent. was agreed upon
This Scale was a compromise.
After this compromise scale had been
inquired out and agreed upon by the
miners, important events followed.
Compromise Scale Accepted
The mine owners Of Western and Cen
trail Ohio decided TO sanction the AZ cent
rate. They signed the scale. But they
was that all the miners would pledge
themselves not TO work In Ohio for less
that the miners. through their represcn-
tatives, should give their word. The
pledge was given. II was 10 hold the
men IN honor bound until April /. 1916.
The pledge having been given. the oper-
ators OF the Hooking Valley and Cam
bridge districts opened their mines on
Thirty-five thousand miners obtained a
chance TO work for their wives and
miners OF the fifth sub-district had
given their word Of honor, and 40 was
deemed food.
The Miners Pledge.
The coal operators OF Western Ohio
accepted as sacred and trustworthy the
pledge or honest men. Every business
does the same. Every banker who ex-
changes money FOR note or bond does
likewise The whole OF modern business
- based on credit. Credit. As the word
itself implies. meanz that a man Will
Keep his promised word. Even the mine
operator OF Eastern Ohio who has lock-
ed out his men. expect his debtors no
redeem their notes. lie expects MS bust
ness associates 10 keep their promises.
and sincere men. In this contest they
are blinded by their feelings. They can
, not see even the obvious Otherwise
wise they could not ask the miners to
break Their word. and accept a rate OF
less than ~ cents before April l. 1915
After that date when the present con-
Iract expires. the miners may agree.
Then. u they choose 70 work for 40
one cent ton. they are free in honor
10 do so-if they couid exist on any
| receive ~ cents or choose 10 stafve. ana
perish from the cold There IL abso-
iutely no other alternative open TO them.
| 1T the operators were 60 offer them 80 %
cents they could not accept it. Honor
i AZ stake. Manhood - IN the balance.
profit a man ~ he gain the whole world
and suner the loss % his own soul"
The Temptation in the Desert"
| These noble brothers Of ours have been
s0rely tempted and tried during nine
weary months. Well may they pray.
Lad ~ not into TEMPTATION"
Their present fare h coarse black
bread and black coffee suppose that
IN addition 20 a rate Of 4G.9s cents. they
the luxurious dining rooms OF the mine
owners. The miners could only refuse
1 ~ NHH NaHH "a
alone
suppose that wives and daughters Of
| the operators were 20 offer % give TO
the wives and daughters of the miners
their warm coats Of seal and sable fur.
on c0ndi lion that the men would agree
gaze furtiveiy al their own ahiverlnr
women folk. But they could reply only
We cannot accept Thou shall not
The novels Of the miners are wrctched
gheitern ~ tho best We have all seen
inc NAT we're not ~ % house horses
| ln. Suppose that the miners. in exchange
I for their shncka. we're offered the spa
tlouH aud Comfortable mansions % the
olersiof IN condition that they would
could reply only as did the shrlterisas
trpcnter 81 Nazareth we cannot
Dioss and Lazarus
some lhnuEhtlrHa people believe the
ttairuent that ths operators would have
the 81 cent rate for mining We All
never know fhs real Truth Us that Dairt
80 o. raaf 81 trIe. The operators NAV
7 NhHf fH ruf diFidrrda 90 salaries even
ITO rar thr al cente they may hats fa
] nH'llflrn comforts ana nnrHfHIfIfr Let
81 even auupuse that the would have Dol
. i've 90 coarse breed and BLACK coffee
and ln miners nuf. rrrfnna fhr..
d fhen could unF 81 cents They w0rfI
I pay if without lOna nf honor rr mao.
hood And honor and manhood are mo-.
! precious things than Iinrffnr none
uaEa. lf they bot know f Tha fnfnarr
aff boz Infinitely worse uuaHf THa
MINERS MAJ uatr fn fNnHf eth HrHfH
They may have t1 errEHure fHaIr hufr
fnr graz -. one fhluH the. cannot L.
/ lnfl must not nfrfr' n traction Ices
fNnu at cents In d. an would Irrrrfs
/ Them
We ere wlfnefalna shafferInf sIaIar.
ifr uaI aiir spectacle OF men Who
prnuH.r dare fn afarTe f0 frafh af fn
rHII ~ honor
Ths Pront 20 Us