El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-17
MINERS AND THEIR EMPL OVERS CAN
Observation-Disclosures IDLE

w VI NJ / WI 4 : LII -
THIS is time for the copper miners and the copper
companies TO work together be idle separately. Il
IS one Of the most critical periods that has ever confronted
the copper industry.
The mines with good ore and means Of making big
PRODUCTION made fair profit with copper at 264 cents
pound even with labor costs at record breaking height
and Materials higher than ever known.
But now that the government has taken OF the fixed
price copper has dropped eight cents pound, to about 10
cents Eighteen not bad price for copper under
some circumstance Before the var sent all costs sky
wsrd IS cents considered good price Twelve and
70 TOO low Copper was at that level about 1911
T. Nobody made any money at those figures and only
the largest producers made expenses The little operators
forced to suspend When the market rose to 10 cents
there was money be made But that time IS long since
nast Costs considered 70 cent copper is low
vas - cent copper in bygone years.
The OF It is that there IS almost demand
fo- copper This is ul tine Big Of copper
sumption either changing over from wartime to
peacee business involving changes OF machinery, OF they
proceeding very cautiously, hardly knowing what the
day VIII bring forth. The allies, who be counted
on to take an enormous tonnage Of copper ultimately foT
reconstruction purposes, doing nothing yet.
Copper IS not being sold. Ard here the operators,
loaded NJ With metal their money ed Up in II, and
copper ard expense piling mp every hour. i is
saunz the resources Of even the large companies to hold
millions OF pounds Of copper Their payrolls and their
supply bills and al their other expenses require steady
outgoing Of cash and there nothing coming in They are
Unable sell their product and If they could It would
have 70 be at price which, many instances is actually
less than the cost Of production.
Under the circumstances the mines in the Warren dis
tct and those at jerome have been forced to find
Of cutting down expenses. After having laid off as
many engaged IN development work and other
tasks absolutely essential Just all other companies
the southwest have done, they felt compelled to cut
wages 70 shift The indications that all other
companies which continue to operate VIII follow the same
course.
They have made the cut as light as possible, much
lighter, qr0poronately than the reduction the price
o. copper for while copper has dropped nearly third
price the wage reduction for miners has only about
oneseTenh. That certainly ought to be regarded
effort TO make the burden as light for the employees as
possible
Although there has been strike talk at some Of the
camps. and virtual closing down at jerome, this is
time for both sides to stick together and keep going If
there way Of sssenng expenses the mines would
have TO close and the employees would be thrown Of
F0rk- Their families would suffer with them (
Some II not most Of the mining companies would be
glad TO close down for time If It not for leaving
their employees II bsd situation Il would be Of positive
advantage 20 them to stop operations and off their
lsnses until the gurted copper market is eased up and
her the price Of copper goes up the Of producing
drops Il would end the drain On their financial
eseves But they not suspendng work and VIII not
% 50, so long as their employees meet sacrifice with sac
ice slightly lower wages 10 match much lower copper for
which there IS no demand p
One disIkss to think what would happen II the Jerome
ks movement spread throughout the southwest and the
mines met II simply By closing down their works. It is
eng way nom Tyrone Bsbee, Miami and Clifton to any
her place Of size where work is likely to be found
Better for the miners 10 take the cut and make the
est Of It until such tine as the companies are IN better
circumstances and then make bid the restoration Of
he wartime wage scale If the cost Of living still solids up
ne present reduction VII be felt less seriously than would
fN --1 luouLls ago because the
one commodities Of everyday is coming down Min
1g camp prices generally higher than FL Paso prices
NJ here eggs have dropped from 80 IS cents dozen
utter TON Y 70 S. cents pound and pork lons from so
% cents pound There have been minor decreases
number Of other articles OF food The drop nav not
as great in The mining camps here, it IS Of some
fleet nevertheless. d.
i IS 70 be hoped tie miners for their own sake and that
thelr families VII cooperate with the companies at this
ne ana not force the mines and themselves into ideness
listening 70 LHW agltators who trying to para a.
re the country industraIy the first step in revou-
on 70 overthrow the American government
Il so happens that at Jerome where about ANN man
re employed there only few hundred LWW mem tC
- but TINS minority able for time TO bluff the at
olans OF others into staying away from the mines h
ne union miners dsked the cut IN wages but vera
ous 70 submit the matter to federal mediator As 10
1Ies n Meyer, president Of the International Union of ST
me, MI and Smsltermen, said at Denver: Fl
we knew the reduction coming and counted rnos 81
ne are satslled With agreement with the federal
''eIneut i IS only the LW.W. who are TO blame for
J1ng 20 bring a strike" vC
Miners ought be thinking this matter ovsr and nal CO
z up Their minds not to listen to any strike aIl mot fo Il
e sae Of the oopausthe operators are abe "a ts CT
s q tEe1seives-but for their Own sake and fbs+ ~ IS
sll l-les Eour dollars and TWENTY-FIVE cents 5s1z re
not IS good ss S., but whole lot better than i5ns~S
sr ne companies half way and keep the mines running
After the storm when the air g clean sus Isn sn5 p
sEnI IS Brilliant -aiHt it grand and glorious q
4hy aren't talking about candidates buvinq votss With -
onsy any moTs Tie medium CT barter Esz cb,1gs5 r.
asy tax II terms Of bootleg now. tr