Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-07-12

Recently a course Of action was in
augurated by some of the coal min
ers of Colorado which calls for special
consideration at this time. Some diff
ferences arose among the union min
ers which were carried to the general
officers of the United Mine Workers
Of America. 1t is not necessary or
interesting. to discuss the causes of
the differences. The fact is that the
officers of the international union
were unable to adjust them in ac-
cordance with the views taken by one
faction. Whether there was just
cause for complaint is immaterial to
the point to which we address our
selves, but this fact is emphasized
that instead of continually endeavor-
ing to win judgment and action to
the view of the dissatisfied element
they undertook to break away from
the United Mine Workers of America
and form a dual, rival and antago-
nistic union of miners. They then
made application to the American
Federation Of Labor for a charter.
When the application was received,
the president of the A. F. of L., in
refusing to issue the charter, stated
to the applicants:
In reply, permit me to call your
attention to the fact that under
the laws of the A. F. of L., no
charter can be granted to an or
ganization of workers who come
under the jurisdiction of an exist
ing organization except with the
full consent and approval of that
organization.
Of course, l have some under
standing of the situation as it eX-
lists and some of the reasons as
signed for the action in the effort
to establish an independent or dual
organization, but the trade union
ism recognized by the A. F. of L.,
the trade unionism for which we
have all fought all these years, is
that there shall be unity and SOL
idarity in spirit and in fact among
the workers Of a given trade, in
dustry or calling, and | would
rather fight within the ranks of
my union for a cause in which
believed and be defeated my whole
life than to attempt to form and
foster dual and rival union to an
organization particularly as the
United Mine Workers has done so
much for the workers in that in
dustry. Of course, under the laws
and the policies and principles of
the A. F. of L. a charter such as
the one for which you apply can
not be granted. l therefore trans
mitted copy Of your letter together
with carbon copy of my reply
thereto, to President F. J. Hays,
United Mine Workers of America.
Such is the position of the bona fide
organized labor movement of Amer
ica. 1t is the result of the experience
and judgment of the whole course of
organized labor 1t is the only con-
sistent course which can be pursued
if the best interests of the toiling
masses of our country can be pro-
tected and advanced.
1t may not be amiss to call atten-
tion to the fact that it is just about
twenty years ago when the coal min
ers of America began to emerge from
condition worse than slavery and
serfdom. The tremendous struggle
in the bituminous fields-in the an
thracite coal regions-the sacrifices
which were made-the burdens which
were borne to bring light into the life
and the work of the miners of Amer
ica. Without attempting here to re-
count the struggles, the sacrifices and
the achievements, suffice it to know
that now the miners in the United
Mine Workers of America, under the
banner of the A. F. of L., stand erect
in full possession of high standards
of life and work and take their stand
shoulder to shoulder in the front
ranks of the workers of America.
1t is a transformation that beggars
words to describe. 1t is one of the
achievements almost unparalleled in
the history of industry of this 'or of
any other country of the world. Who
can forget the slaughter of Latimer-
who fails to remember the murderOus
warfare at Ludlow? Who is it that
would return to conditions to which
only this mere reference can be made
The mine workers of Colorado were