The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-30

- known that representatives OF
the International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smeter Workers have
been active in the Coeur dAlene dis
triet in an effort to unionize the mines
fof the district. This organization is
the same that was formerly known as
the Western Federation of Miners,
which had such a strong membership
In this district up to the trouble of
1899, since which time it has main
tained skeleton organizations at sew
eral points in the district, but has
been without influence so far as con-
troll of men in the mines Is concerned.
Since 1899 the mines of the Occur
d'Alene district have been run on the
open shop" plan, and so far as Is
employees have been satisfactory.
Working conditions about the mines of
this district are conceded to be better
than any other district in the west,
and this applies to underground condi-
tions as we'll as those on the surface,
living conditions, boarding house ac-
commodations, etc. About the only
thing that requires, adjustment seems
to be the sliding scale of wages This
was voluntarily adopted by the min
fing companies some two years ago and
it is understood that the companies
have recently had under consideration
the extension of the scale to provide
for further increase of wages based
on the higher price of lead. The COM
pany store and boarding house is also
live issue in connection with en-
ployment at some of the mines and
should be adjusted so as to remove
any restraint from employees in the
matter of board and trade. With these
matters adjusted on basis of absol-
ute fairness to employers and en-
ployes, the only cause for discord
would seem to be removed.
Union Asks for Conference.
How successful the representatives
of the union have been. in securing
members is not known. Meetings
have been held in various parts OF the
district and the emissaries of the
union are understood to have been
very active. That the leaders feel that
they are now in position to secure re-
cognition is indicated by the following
letter that has been mailed to all the
managers of mining companies of the
district:
Points to Be Considered.
Wallace, Idaho, August "a, 1917.
To the Manage of the Mining
Company, Coeur d'Alene District
Idaho:
Dear Sir-The following communi-
cation is being addressed to all the
mines operating in this district. We
ask that you give it your careful con-
sideration and that an early reply Will
be Forthcoming. We are informed
that an association composed OF all
the managers in the district is in ex-
istence. and we would like to meet
your association If possible, so that
any action taken may be universal
We wish to submit for your consid-
Grafton the following propositions, and
to ask for conference to discuss
them. Before doing SO, however, we
wish to point out that with the al
most universal unrest that is perme-
ating the entire country and especial
ly the mining industry, the impera-
tive necessity of the immediate con-
sideration of these propositions.
> In submitting them at this time VIC
do so, not in the shape of demands
but to call your attention to conditions
that should have been changed Ions
" ago, but that still exist almost univer'
sally in the district, and to impress
upon you the necessity of improving
conditions before sentiment crystalize'
a tn any greater extent than 1t has a
present.
= The developments of the past si'
7, months have shown that the worker
s are not satisfied with the condition.
8 in the mining industry, and that the.
: are going to organize to improve them
e It is only matter of time until som
s incident may occur that may bring OF
d turmoil and strife in the Coeu
& fd'Alenes. Such ascondition can b
q avoided by intelligent action and fore
% sight on the part of the managers Il
n this district.
! We should profit by the mistakes Q
II others, and while the opportunity pre-
s sents itself you should open negotia
il tions now with the bona fide labo
movement to the end that throug