Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-03-25
Eastern Ohio Coal Miners Round Out Year Of Sacrifice To Win
Mine Run System For Which They Have Fought Since 1883


with the all powerful influence Of
the State or National government
can justify request upon the
miners to submit to such sacri-
flee.
When the shutdown of the mines
occurred on April l, 1914, as a result
of the operators refusing to operate
under the Mine Run System, 10000
miners were thrown idle. The opera
tors in the Hooking Valley District
which is the basic scale district FOL
all Ohio miners, and the operators o.
the Cambridge District, after three
months shutdown, agreed to abide by
the law, contract was signed with
the miners in July, under which 1000
miners returned to work. There has
been no change in the Eastern Ohio
field. $4,000 still remain idle as q
result of the shutdown.
Since the Hooking Valley opera.
tors, the mines upon which all
contracts between the operators
and miners are based, have ac-
cepted the Mine Run system and
the differentiaI in pay resulting
from the Inauguration Of this sys-
TEN, then in the light of reason
can the operators of Eastern Ohio
justify their position. The scale
price submitted for Eastern Ohio
carried with it the acceptance Of
IL cent differential reduction
ie he
ton given the Hooking Valley
operators. A greater reduction
would be unjust, inasmuch as it
would not preserve intact the
same competitive relationship
that has formerly existed.
There are many angles to the East
ern Ohio shutdown. Just at present
the operators are endeavoring to re
peal the Mine Run Law, with the
hope of breaking the deadlock The
repeal bill has already passed the
Senate and has been reported out Of
the House Committee without recon
mendation.
- s0perators and local Business
men are wondering what effect
the passage of the repeal bill will
UaVC 0tObt uiuVbos hS
ers answer, and say, THAT over
two-thirds of the Ohio coal mines
are now being operated under the
mine run system by contract that
will run for IS months, and that
they will not return to the pits
unless they secure the same con-
ditions.
There can be no question Of the
miners being justified in this posi-
ton.
Thus it is plainly evident that an!
and all proposed settlements of thu
Eastern Ohio shutdown must embrace
the Mine Run system of weighing
coal.
Is the mine run system the only
reason for the Ohio shutdown
Many believe that in the back
ground there are a multitude OF
reasons.
Men who are acquainted with Ohi'
mining conditions, freely express tn
opinion that had there been no troI
BILE, owing to the general bushes
depression, the mines would have rul
less than half time. The majority o
Eastern Ohio Operators have larg
coal mining interests in suroundini
states, and it has been extremel:
easy for them to fill all big contract
from these holdings.
It is just this condition that
makes il all the more necessary
that the Eastern Ohio miners win
the Mine Run system.
This field is in the heart of tn
great bitumous coal fields Of the east
The coal produced is in direct con
petition with West Virginia, both VI
| ion and non-union. Kentucky an
Tennessee on the South. Indiana, Ill
nois and Western Pennsylvania, an
| in addition, the Hooking and Can
bridge districts in Ohio.
- II the miners lose this mighty
struggle, direfuI results will sure
ly follow. Under former cohdi-
tions the field was competitive
factor on a known basis. Crush
the Miners organization and let
the operators establish conditions
that will give them an unreason-
able vantage and every coal field
surrounding Eastern Ohio will
feel the effects.
The holdout for the Mine Run 81
TEN must continue. There can be n
compromise. Never was there NOR
! faithful army of the COMMON GOO
| called upon to make sacrifice tia
the Ohio Miners. They are willing
endure the hardships. BUT. YOU
BROTEHERlY LOVE, MR. WORKNl
AND AFFuIAATTON SHOULD AL
t PEAL TO YOUR IMMERSED
/ STRONG ENOUGH TO Make THEE
BURDEN AS LIGHT AS POSSIBGI
During the first three months Of th
struggle, when 10000 men were gu
the State defense fund was completed
exhausted. The National organizatio
gave every possible assistance, br
due to the tremendous drain on th
treasury in supporting the Colorad
strike, the National organization Wa
mot in a position to shoulder an add
tional burden of such magnitude, bt
agreed to put every available dolls
into the struggle. Up to last Septen
Der the strikers only received one dc
liar per week. From December
March three dollars was paid