The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-07-12

augurated by some OF Ihe coal mll-
ers of Colorado which calls for spe-
ciul consideration at this time. Some
differences arose among the union
miners which were carried to the
general officers of the United Mine
Workers of America. 1t is not nee
essary or interesting to discuss the
causes of the differences. The fact
is that the officers of the interna-
ton union were unable to adjust
them in accordance with the views
taken by one faction. Whether there
was just cause for complaint is i'm
material to the point to which we
address ourselves, but this fact is
emphasized-that instead of con-
tinually endeavoring to win judg
ment 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 antagonistic union
of miners. They then made appli-
cation to the American Federation
of Labor for charter. When the
application was received, the presi-
dent 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
/; ws of the A. F. of L., no charter
c n be granted to an organization
of workers who come under the
jurisdiction of an existing organiza-
ten except with the full consent
and approval of that organization.
Of course, have scEe under
standing of the situation as it ex-
lists and some of tie reasons as
signed for the action in the effort
to establish an Independent or dual
organization, but the trade unionism
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 solidarity
in spirit and in fact among the
workers of given trade, industry 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 at
tempt 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 industry. Of course
under the laws and the policies and
principles of the A. F. of L.
charter such as the one for which
you apply can not be granted
therefore transmitted copy of your
letter together with carbon copy of
my reply thereto, to President +. j.
Hays, United Mine Workers of
America.
Such is the position of the bona
fide organized labor movement of
America. 1t is the result of the
experience and judgment of the whole
course of organized labor. 1t is
the only consistent course which can
be pursued if the best interests of
the toiling masses of our country
can be protected 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 a condition worse than slavery
and serfdom. The tremendous strug-
gle in the bituminous fields-in the
anthracite coal regions-the sacri-
fices which were made-the burdens
which were borne to bring light into
the life and the work of the miners
of America. Without attempting
here to recount the struggles, the
sacrifices and the achievements, suf-
flee 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 pos
session 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 transformation that beg
gars words to describe. 1t is one
of the achievements almost unpar-
alleled in the history of industry of
this or of any other country of the
world. Who can forget the slaugh-
ter of Latimer-who fails to remem-
ber the murderous warfare at Lud-
low? Who is it that would return
to conditions to which only this
mere reference can be made?
The mine workers of Colorado were
on the upward trend, both in or
ganization, influence, power and i'm
portance and their material condi-
tions, hours of labor, life and work.