The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-10-26

Before the first draft approximately
100000 mine workers were employed
n the United States. Then the war
ook about Is per cent of the workers,
or large number volunteered, in
ldition to the loss by draft. Men
"a ccustomed to danger went to war
With the courage of long experience in
airing death. Thus. with greatly in
reased demands upon them, the
nine-workers Of the country found
themselves hampered by reduced
umbers.
In the first three months of 1913,
espite the most patriotic effort, fig
Z res showed that 100000 tons less
han in the same period of 1918 had
cen produced. Bad weather was the
rincipal cause of this disappoint-
aent. The United States Fuel Admin
uarter and made earnest appeals TO
peed up.
But the mine workers needed no
rging to do their best in what Presi-
ent Wilson has called the "great
ervice army" Increased production
ecame the watchword and enthusi-
SIN spread from Pennsylvania to In
lana, from West Virginia to Illinois,
'on1 Texas to Colorado. In every
ate where mines are located men
III to work with supreme energy.
Miners who had been working part
me on account of age or physical
,:sa bilities ceased to spare themselves.
any who had made enough money
support them in old age gave up
,eir well-earned leisure, and ap-
cared again in the early morning
hes of workers that moved toward
-- e blackened buildings above shaft
Id tunnel. At Stonesboro, Pa.
here the Mercer Iron and Coal COM
my mines are the oldest in the dis
let, $50 men who had retired from
e service of the company after ac-
!mulating substantial savings, volun-
cred to take up pick and shovel
ain. These older workers We're as
=~ sned to new opening on the mine,
aich was not yet connected with a
ilway spur, but while waiting for
siding to be completed they mined
300 tons of coal.
Frank J. Hayes. president of the
lited Mine Workers, made a tour
the anthracite mining fields, in
ly, for the purpose of appealing to
-- ne operators as we'll as mine work.
to increase production, but he
Ind that there was no lack of ap-
eciation of the opportunity to serve
country with pick and shovel as
II as with rifle and bayonet
During the week Of July 13, the
mes operated up to nearly sc per
It of their full time output The
al loss Of production from all
Uses amounted to 13 per cent In
Llama, where the ne-workers have
IN doing their utmost to help win
war, they have worked full hours
all working days.
The eight mines of the Knox County
IL Operators association produced
1887 tons in July, an increase of
43S tons over the largest previous
ord for month. And this was
lieved, Notwithstanding $50 hours
re lost on account of car shortage
n response to a letter sent out by
w. Guthrie, president of the United
tes Coal corporation of Pittsburgh
ing that an effort be made to &c
-r r the top for July with 100000
s, the miners exceeded the amount
ired by 1851 tons. In, the Goa
ds Of central Pennsylvania the big.
t, production for the current yea,
recorded for the week which
ed August "a, when the output was
)6.075 tons, or 1907 more than the
hest number of tons in any pre-.
-- is week of 1918
lot only in increased energy an6
intensive labor have the mine.
'kers been seeking to c: the war
they, have cut down absences. II
Clearf1eld Bituminous Coal corpo
on's field the percentage of absen
changed from 20.8 in May to g.;
July. From Norton, Va, tn,
States Fuel Administration re-
ed the report that the week endir-
j:ust "a showed c02,O35 net ton.
been produced, or 1,100 net tom
(COnt4n11,A m E0aa.nx