The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-07-12
is THE LABORER NOT
WORTHY OF HIS HIRE ?
Treatment of W0rkmen i'm Lead Belt by
Mine Owners Appears to Deny
This Biblical Quotation

men in the Lead Belt have no idea OF
going out on strike, so long as there
is any chance for them to get relief,
either from the mine operators, or as
final resort, so The Times has been
informed, the leaders propose to sub
init their case to the Government War
Labor Board, where the trouble will
certainly be adjusted to the satisfac-
tion of the miners, regardless OF what
may be the attitude of the mine own
ers.
1t is entirely beyond the power of
The Times to discern any reason why
the wages of all mine workers should
not be on a par with the greatly in
creased cost of living, and yet it is
very plain to see that there is a very
wide difference between the two
scales. The enormous advance in the
price of lead in the past three years,
which price still continues compafa-
lively steady, has absolutely no coun-
terpart in the wages that the mine
workmcn have been drawing, at any
time during that period. And yet.
during the past year, the wages Of the
workmen have suffered very mater
ial reduction by having all bonuses
cut off.
The method of the mine operators,
in holding down, and even in reduc-
ing the wages of their workmen, at
this time, of all times, certainly
strongly savors to profiteering. The
idea of their not only absorbing the
last cent of profit from their product.
but even encroaching upon their
workmen for the last drop of blood
! they can spare and continue to work,
| does not at all smack of Americanism
we mean pure and undefiled Ameri-
canism, without tincture of suspicion
of German tendencies. 1t does
not even smack of fair dealing, much
less of patriotism. Is the laborer
worthy Of his hire? At least since
the first shadowy prospects Of war
appeared on the horizon, the actions OF
the mine operators have been calcu-
lated to deny such Biblical injunction.
| The management of the mines have
appeared TO be absolutely destitute of
4 heart or soul. This is time for hui
man treatment of human beings.
| Another thing. Up to within the
xast few months il vas practically
impossible for American boys to get
Jobs in the mines. Now they cannot
only secure places to work, but young
Americans are eagerly sought for
work in the mines. Nor is the reason
for this far removed. The foreigner,
who has always been the special pet
of the companies throughout the Lead
Belt, have for some time past been
going to other fields, where wages are
better, since they have become able
to look after their own best interests.
Their going has caused scarcity OF
! workmcn in the Lead Belt, hence the
,, determination of the companies to try
, and get along with the more intelli-
, gent American laborer.
, But "thc worm will turn" wher
, pressed too far. And SO will tht
!, American laborer. The bonuses for
; merly paid to satisfy the foreignc'
: have been Topped off, notwithstanding
,, the constantly increasing cost of ilv
; ing. There will be no strike, a
strikes are always an expensive lux
ury, but there must be raising o
the wage scale throughout the Lea'
i Belt. If the operators fail to Civ
j. this necessary relief, then the govern
J. mental authorities will be called upol
: to supply the remedy.