New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-07-20
NOT TREATING THEM FAIRLY.

SSCooIHB " Sue pIeSe IepOISb tue
government representative, sent in
Ito the Gallup coal field to adjust
THE differences between the miners
and the new of the Victor
American properties, will insist that
the men nov owning and attempt
ing to operate those coal mines sur
render to the strikers on the ground
that they should not do anything
to change existing conditions dur
ing the time Of war. This j. not
Treating the new owner of the Gal
lup properties fairly, because the
facts in the case do not warrant
are doing anything to change any
Established conditions, in fact they
are standing firm not to accept the
new doctrine that a contract to do
certain things with the men en-
ployed by one company must follow
the property.
1t is we'll known in the west that
the fomer owners of the Victoria
merican properties did not belong
to that class of financiers who be-
lieve in treating the public as fairly
as conditions make possible, and who
take a pride in having a reputation
above approach for fair dealing with
all men in all things. The company
was always at war with its men
until a short time ago, when, as
it now appears, a contract was sign
ed which not only %uninoized the
mine, but probidcd for the collec-
ton Of union dues by the company.
If the new owners had known of
the contract before the sale it would
have meant nothing, because there
is nothing in the contract to create
the unusual condition that the con-
tract should apo.y to any new own
crs. Taken as a whole the contract
presents many opportunities for the
Victor-American company to bring
on tabor disturbances in the district
and continue at work itself, which
would give it a practical monopoly
of ne coalsmined there and would
force pr,ocs above normal. The new
owners have increased the wages paid
the men, also reduced the prices
charged for supplies at the company
store, and have made many new
regulations for the betterment of
conditions but they have no use for
anything which may cause other
operators and the ge'..ral public
trouble and money, and t. ey refuse
to collect III on dues from their
men. holding that while having no
prejudices against a union man, and
willingly giving them work on an
equality with others, they refuse to
discriminate against any man, and
to collect union dues, which
would be tie same as restricting
mines to union labor, or a
closed shop"
The mine owners are standing Tor
an established condition of all time,
the right Of the employer to en-
plov his own men, while the men
seek to establish the principle that
such contracts as they have made
with the former owners. and con
Sorne very unusual provisions,
should follow the property, Another
remarkable thing is that the con-
was only made late this spring,
probably long after negotiations had
for the sale of the property,
md had hardly been put into pract-
cc before the change of ownership.
Under the new ownership every '
is with the men-better
Jay and a reduced cost of l~ving-and
he only question al issue is whether ,
II not the new owners shall collect
dues from every man work
ng in their mines, which involves
he question Of whether or lot the
follows the property, a ques-
clearly belonging to the courts,
nd the men would lose nothing, !;
nd actually gain financially, by go d,
ng TO work and leaving the one {
uestion at issue for the courts to {
After the war they could =
if they wanted to. =
Under the actual conditions ex- r
sting at Gallup the representative +
f the government has not treated /,
he new owners fairly, and in this
.onnection we desire to say that
here is a strong opinion afloat in
his state that someone is playing
When the representatives
the government went to Arizo-
where violent strikers were on a
} actually change all existing con- d
and demands were being "
ladc for impossible conditions which o
did exist before, and can not A
vist in the future if these indus t;
les are to exist, and under those v
onditions the representatives of the
overnment did not make any re-
lamentations that things should
nc tI.,, ,,ar Lnfora w, f,1r, Al
this government is in the habit o,
employing nice gentlemen in its 81
rvice who know nothing of the 81
they are to tamper with al
what may be developed by a CO
vii service examination with a po- a
ical string tied to it, and that in
ese nice gentlemen grow large
lantaties of bone from the neck
!, but it is not often that the
igher ups" get SO badly out of
Ie as they seem to be in handling
e labor trouble of the southwest.
lese representatives of the govern ~
INT want former conditions upheld d,
n small strike, and either don't i
mt former conditions upheld in the nc
: and important strikes those az
ought about by traitorous influ- i"
ces-or they lack the nerve to say
hit out in public what they do a;
mt. M
This is no time to strike, but even ="
der present conditions we might e.,
npathize with the Gallup strikers h;,
the new wner wanted to reduce -.
Fir wages, increase the prices at
store, or make their working
harder and nore d;e,urea-