Denver labor bulletin., 1917-03-31
BECAME EFFECTIVE MON
DAY OF THIS WEEK.
Conference Held in Denver Marks
New Era in Coal Industry of
State; Operators and
Miners Ignore Indus
trial Commission.

An agreement covering a period Of
three years has been entered into be-
tween the United Mine Workers of
America and the Victor-American Fuel
company. This was indicated in last
weeks issue of The Bulletin, which
told of n conference then on at the
Oxford hotel in Denver between rep
resentatives of the company and the
union.
This conference opened Thursday
morning and was concluded Saturday
evening at 5 o'clock, when the contract
drawn by n subcommittee was unani-
mously ratified by the forty or more
delegates composing the conference,
marking as IL did the most signal vic
tory ever achieved by the union coal
miners Of this state.
Monday morning Of this week each
Of the twelve mines operated by the
Victor r-Amcrican Fuel company, ten
IN Colorado and two in New Mexico.
began working under union conditions.
This is the first time the Nictor-Amer-
lean company. the second largest coal
producing corporation in Colorado. has
ever recognized the union in any par
ticulnr. During the coal strike of
1881. this company wRs one of the
strongest opponents of the union.
Union Rules Now Prevail.
Under terms Of the agreement. COM
plete recognition of the union is es-
tablishcd. the men permitted TO elect
their own checkweighman in the
mines, the checkof system of dues
established and provision made for
mine committees to take UP grievances
with the company. II is further pro-
vided that IL the miners in the COM
pctitive fields Of Illinois, Kansas and
nltohap1u ny rYunfnd In
crcases at expiration Of their contracts
in 1918, the Victor-Amcrican Fuel
company also will grant such ad-
vanccs.
Frank ]. Hayes. vice president of
the international union and chairman
Of the special organizing committee
recently created by the executive board
TO have charge in Colorado when the
district charter was withdrawn. was
chairman Of the conference held Mt
the Oxford hotel. Each of the twelve
mining camps sent two delegates 10
represent the miners and the mine
supcrintendents came to Denver at in
vitation of the company officials. The
subcommittee which drew up the
agreement consisted of Frank J.
Hayes. chairman. and Robert II. Har-
lin. national executive board member
from Seattle, representing the union,
and G.. r. Bartlett. vice president and
treasurer. md A. r, Hamilton. large
Eastern stockholdcr. representing the
company.
AT various times during the confer
ence. Mcssrs. Bartlett and Hamilton
conferred with President John c. Os-
good and the board OF directors of the
company. so that when the final terms
of agreement were written they had
the approval Of the company and thus
preclude any friction in the future.
Opens Way for New Era.
There are at present about $500
miners employed by the Victor-Amer-
lean Fuel company at the twelve min
ing camps. Signing of an agreement
by this corporation. II is believed, will
soon result in the unionizing OF every
coal mining concern in Colorado. New
Mexico and Utah. the territory intend
cd to be covered by District 10. When
thoroly unionized this district will
have about $4,000 members, over one
half of them being in Colorado.
Ignore Industrial Com mission.
Among all branches Of labor in Col
orado there has been expressions of
qualification over signing up the Vic
tor-Amcrican Fuel company by the
United Mine Workers. II is perhaps
the most advanced stcps taken in Ia
Dor union AFFAIRS within recent years
and will have beneficial effect in all
branches Of employment. Negotia-
tions are now said to be under way
looking to the signing up of every
large coal mining corporation.
Neither the mine operators nor the
miners union invited the Colorado in
dustrinl commission to participate in
the conference, nor was permission of
the commission requested to change
working conditions. In fact, the Colo
RADIO industrial commission law was
completely ignored, and it is hardly
likely that the penalties imposed by
the law for such action will be ap-
piled.
Statement Of Chairman Hayes.
President Hayes. chairman of
the conference, has given The Bulle-
tin the following statement:
1.-THE agreement reached between
the Victor-American Fuel company
and the United Mine Workers Of
America marks an epoch in the rela-
tions between capital and labor in
Colorado.
at means Industrial peace with JUS
tice for the mine workers Of this state.
II means an equitable settlement Of
all disputes in tho council hall Of rea-