The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
NEW WAGE MENACE
FOR COAL INDUSTRY
Mine Workers Officials Sec
Remedy Only in Flat In
crease in Pay.
BONUSES CAUSE TROUBLE
District Presidents to Confer
in Washington on
August 90.

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 1s.-Labor cond!-
lions In the coal mining industry for
which "the only logical solution Is a
substantial fiat wage increase to be APP
piled to all classifcations of mine labor
will be discussed at a conference OF dis
trict presidents OF the United Mine
Workers in Washington, August 22. &C.
cording to an announcement made here
tonight by Frank J. Hayes. president Of
the United Mine Workers of America.
President Hayes said the conference
had been called ito avert II possible, a
rapidly developing labor condition within
the coal industry. which, II permitted to
go unchecked. would undermine coal
production plans"
The wage increase ''can be met and
applied by the coal operators without
the necessity OF an increase in the selling
price of coal to the consuming publtS.'
asserted the miners official, who added
that the paying OF bonuses by many
mine owners now ''is indsputable evil
dence that the industry is able to bear
an advance in wages"
The labor condition in brief, has been
caused. President Hayes says. by many
mine owners paying bonuses in excess
of the wage scale in order to obtain and
keep miners in their mines.
Industry's stability Menaced.
Mr. Hayess statement continues:
THE practice has become so wide
spread that the stability Of the. entire
| industry Is threatened and the coal oper-
ators themselves are becoming alarmed
at their own handiwork.
"The Fuel Administration Is conduct
ing Investigations to hnd out the reasons
for the conditions and the identity OF the
operators who are bidding for labor by
the payment OF bonuses Various of the
operators associations have petitioned
the Fuel Administration to save them
from the disastrous results Of the bonus
system.
"If bonuses are eliminated from the
pay envelopes of the miners now receiv-
| ing them the industry will lose thou
| sands SO necessary to maintaining pro-
| duction. 70 say nothing OF the nations
| demand for a greatly increased output.
III wages are not increased to those
not now receiving bonuses to the equiva-
| lent of tho bonuses now being received
| by other miners then the industry faces
a sure and certain loss OF needed man
power.
For the protection Of our entire war
programme. to keep the wheels of basic
| industry going fun blast, it is necessary
! that a wage adjustment be made on a
basis that will put an end to the whole
| sale competition for men and hold the
| miner to the mines. where he would like
to remain II but given the equivalent
wage possible for him to receive in other
industries"
| Miners Explain Grievance.
| Mr. Hayes then refers to a conference
between officials of the Fuel Adminstra-
| ton and the intcrna tional officers OF the
United Mine Workers held in Washing
! ton July 20 and 80. and quotes a letter
| addressed to DR.. H. A. Garfield, United
States Fuel Administrator. and signed
| by President Hayes. Vice. President John
L. Lewis and Secretary William Green
OF the United Mine Workers.
I'm this letter the miners officers
| state that their files show that operators
| in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania are
| paying bonuses TO their miners. while
| the operators OF the Southwestern States
and in Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky
| petitioned the Fuel Administration tc
| prohibit by executive order the paying
| Of bonuses above the schedule of price.
! OF the wage agreement negotiated ir
Washington in October. 1917. and ap,
proved at the biennial convention of the
miners in January 1918.
| Such an order the letter states, would
| be fraught with grave danger. and would
| unQuestionably result in a serious de-
| crease of production, land would be me-
| by keen resentment on the part OF the
great number OF miners directly ar
| fected."
f, The officials OF the miners in theiI
letter declare that "the only sensible
| logical solution Is a substantial fiat wage
increase. to be applied to all classified
| tons OF mine labor throughout the coun'
try. Such an action would only make
general and official what is now beins
done by the operators in substance anc
effect. and such an increase can be me-
and applied by the coal operators of the
United states without the necessity Of
| an increase in the selling price of Goa
| to tho consuming public.
"In the emergency which is now un
questionably facing the mining industry
we are convinced that no other plan save
the wage increase we suggest will meet
requirements and properly protect the
| interest of our nation"
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