The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-28
500 MINERS


N(OnIiuueu EIOH 1dBe OnCy
they might draw a wage on a par
with men in the other shafts of the
Southwestern operators shafts The
miners used for a supplemental argu-
ment, the fact that the operators,
after granting the 10-cent increase,
hiked the price of coal SO cents
ton, telling the public the increase
was due to the miners raise in pay.
On June IS, the county miners del
egation and representatives of the coal
operators met in a hotel room in
Usage city to end the controversy
cent raise. The miners made their
plea. George Richardson. commits
sioner for the Southwestern opera
tors, took the floor. after the miners
had asked the hike "out of justice
that they might earn a living wage"
Justice" said Richardson, lis not
thing to be considered in this meet
ing. The contract made by miners
and the Southwestern operators
whereunder the wage scale is set at
$3.50 and $1.S6, binds the miners to
work for that wage until July 81,
1918. This is not thiEs to be de-
cided by justice. it's a thi1f. to be de-
cided by the contract, or rather a
thing that has already been decided
by contract. The operators will not
grant the increase"
Joined the Southwestern.
Phil Rooney, an official representa-
tive of the miners. Scranton. tells how
the operators organized quickly to
fight the wage increase.
When the miners asked for the SO
cents a ton raise, only three of the
companies operating in Usage county
were members of the Southwestern
coal operators association Only these
three mines were represented in max
ing the $3.50 and $1.S6 scale. Just
after the miners announced they
would make their plea, James Nc
Dewitt, superintendent of the Jackson
Walker company, one of the operators
in the association at the time the con-
tract was made, came to Usage City.
He affiliated the majority of the oper-
ators in the county with the associa-
ton. The number of three was al
most overnight increased to seventeen
operators. While these operators,
newly affiliated, did not have a hand
in making the scale in effect, they
were quick to take advantage OF NC
Devitt's promise that if they Joined
the association they could take adj
vantage of it's contract ind would not
have to pay the raise.
Many Mines Shut Down.
Mines shut down in Usage county
Fosteria four at Burlingame. two at
| Forsteria, four at Burlingame, two at
Peterton and six at Usage City.
One-third of the mines are still run
ming. They are owned by independent
! operators or leased b. labor ex-
changes. They are paying the increase
asked by the miners and are selling
| their coal for the same price asked by
| the combine" ;
Big profits made by the nine own
ers in the last eight months are open
secrets around Scranton, Osage City
| and Burlingame Scores of miners
claim to have heard the operators
Boosting of the money they made.
- l. as,,4 rkar4l
l eceiving- $40 and S1.76 a ton, the
owners sold the coal at the shaft
mouth for $4.25 a ton. The cost of
getting a ton of coal out of the shaft,
in addition to the labor, is SO cents a
| ton. This means mat the coal that
the owners sold for $4.25 a ton cost
| them only $2.20 and $2.26 a ton.
! The owners are today, ana were be-
| fore tho men quit work, Hing coal
at the shaft mouth for $3.50 and So.
a ton. The labor costs $3.50 to 81. Sc
Il ton. Adding the so cents overhead
the cost will be found to be s2.SO and
| $2.86. The operators are, under this
| scale, laking profit of between
s1.20 and $1.39 a ton, 1t was because
| of this profit that the miners asked
wage hike.
Ask a Living Wage.
| Speaking for the miners. Phil
Rooney said to the State Journal to-
day:
The miners are asking a living
| wage. They know it is possible fol-
| the operators to pay the increase
asked. The miners are welcoming
any investigation. We invite the state
or federal authorities to come to Usage
county and probe our claims. We
know our plea will be held justifi-
able"
The miners declare the walkout /:
not strike They claim the miner,
were simply forced to quit work and
look, for employment elsewhere be.
cause they cannot live on the con
tract wage.
A big percentage of the coal uset
in Topeka comes from Burligame
Usage City and Scranton. Unless .tht
mines open again this city will pa!
an exorbitant price-as already is be
ing charged-for the product from
other districts. Many million tons o
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