The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-10-20

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Fourth-Tlle check-of. &
Of all Of the foregoing concessions from the standpoint of the
the fourth the most important and the most clever ar
rangemen that could be devised by monopoly seeking labor
ganzaon the employer to provide and keep furnished
Understand have quarrel with collective bargaining
properly operated responsible labor unon but talking
tonight of the coal West Virginia and these events shed
light on the history of this controversy
Now to return TO that agreement OF January sh 1888 what
did the United Nine Workers promise in return for concession after
concession from the opeators few minor points
conceded but here the feature that has and does vitality
They promised that they would proceed to unionze West vr
snia as well as as. other u1Srganzsd sections a.
and here plain bargain conspiracy WISH eighteen
ago attempt the very thing with which you threatened
little history Remember the organization with only
$4,000 members in 1898 made the bargain year later thanks
the closed shop it had G00O members then about later
0s0O0 members and years later 100000 members
With this increase in membership what did the organization
do in those sections where it had control.
The base rate Of in 1887 was sic and raised from
highest in the world for equal class OF labor and this
industry that has always returned begsar profits the money
would be amusing 70 read Of the conditions mpoed
pages of them for Instance The working places the mine must
direction changed another every such yard drvenf
by the loader in nc place require
pay having Hghness the mule driver must
have assistant harness his mule the morning and take
railroad above the tippe thirty before starting
time even though there may be plenty the tracks below
e work that dayt does how badly the operator
needs the coal they need the work all must lie idle that
But there something wrong in their cacnlation-despite
the fact that they receiving the highest wages known the
hest conditions Of employment nevertheless they each earned
less money than in free fields like West Virginia and what
receives in the true criterion of wages.
OF increased the cost of coal in.
creased and each condition imposed added its mite the
production although these additions the of coal could be
tolerated business conditions such that the operators
most instances could shift the larger part Of their burden on to the
public but the operators FESTIVE and from time TO time the
official records Of the United Nine Workers will show asked
the fufment by the miners Of their part of the contract wherein
they agreed TO organize West Virginia
lierc is one excerpt from their official report
have tried TO keep promises but know what said and
what the understanding and know that session
o convention that has been held from that time
have asked out and make good what you
said you would do at that first conference.
Their reply from time TO time and truthful reply it was-We
have spent hundreds Of thousands of dollars West Virginia
How well do West vgnians know the they
have made to carry out this omsewhat it has cost in time
money and the bloodscd of eopeWe all testify
in 1898
planning allowed Them to continue TO add increasing burdens
wages and conditions and strikes until it impossible
time they seemed 10 think of the diherena in freight
They agreed between themselves they would pass part of this
burden to the railroads and therefore, litigation instituted
reduction of ten cents the freight the lake
COAL which reduction secured
On the convention floor the leaders this state
That should the operators of Ohio succeed in getting the dis
eliminating freight reduced the miners would be entitled
When agreement finally they had taken one half
of the deceasn freight rates and the expiration of that
period they took the other half.
What the further result?
The railroads remained sanc friends of the West Virginia
at that time Immediately upon the reduction becoming
effective, they reduced our equal amount
Let who gained by this transaction The railroads
ten per the lake coal haul The operators
sna Ohio basis United Mine Workers
took the per the Ohio operators supposed
and which taken from the railroads. thus the
latter condition of those operators than first
This brings down to 1914 by which time this organization
had waxed strong and had gained control of the Legislature
well certain officials in Ohio Their state president
dent of the Ohio Senate and handnove with the governor
the anscreen bill passed.
This the that broke the camels strike was
called April 1st 1914 which lasted until the
Then the again surrendered know
all the conditions of this surrender unconditional and
the question arises there another agreement this
time, that West Virginia should be forced market
The facts that there such agreement.
Immediately the miners union became active effort
have the derena between Virginia Ohio raised to fifty
cents rer ton.
Through their influence politics they threatened to reduce
tho