The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-03
THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE
WIN. STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR

vitation of the Miners Union to
form an economic alliance and
conference for that purpose, be
tween the parties interested, will be
held in Cleveland on October /. It
is foregone conclusion that a pow
erful and effective economical al
lance will be formulated at this
conference.
The policy committee of the In
ternational Union, composed of the
International officers and a number
of representatives from each Dis
trict are now in session with the
coal operators at Buffalo. 1t is eX-
tremely doubtful whether or not a
satisfactory agreement will result
from this conference. The Miners
organization is determined that a
substantial increase in wages, as
well as a reduction of hours, must
be conceded at this time, and it is
extremely doubtful that an agree
menI can be reached satisfactory to
the Mine Workers.
1t is generally conceded by those
who understand the situation thor
oughly that strike of all the
mines of the country will occur on
November 1. 1t is also conceded by
those thoroughly familiar with the
entire situation, that in such con-
test the miners will win their de-
mands. 1t is the first time the
Miners organization has attempted
national strike; it is also the
first time that they have been able
to seriously discuss a national
strike.
In the process of developing the
Miners Union, organizing districts
as the opportunity presented itself,
and signing time agreements to pro-
tect the membership after the fight
for organization of the Union and
improved conditions of labor had
been won, so that members thus or
ganized might be protected while
the energies of those organized
were directed to the organization of
the non-organized elsewhere, had
developed a condition whereby the
agreements of separate districts eX-
pired at different dates, and thus
prevented the possibility of a ma
tional strike without the necessity
of violating agreements, a princi-
pie that the Miners Union has al
ways and still religiOusly observes.
However, during the progress of
the war, after the miners had Sc
cured several necessary concessions.
an agreement was made with all of
the coal operators and the United
States Government not for any def
mite date, but for the entire dUra-
tion of the war. This automatical-
ly brought about an expiration of
all agreements for the bituminous
fields on the day that peace was
signed. The miners have always
recognized the advantage of having
agreements expire throughout the
country on the same date, and in
tend that henceforth this principle
now established will be maintained
The miners demand for a 6-hour
day is logical and just, and can be
conceded by the mine owners with
out any injury to the Nation and
the people generally. In 1918 the
Miners of the United States pro
duced approximately a billion tons
of coal, while the industries of
America, running at the highest
maximum production possible, only
consumed slightly over six hundred
million tons, leaving a surplus of
four hundred million tons for eX-
port This abnormal over-produc-
tion, coupled with the fact that fe-
verish war production has now
abated, will make possible the re-
duction of the hours of labor from
s to 6, and still more than meet all
of the industrial and domestic
needs of the Nation.
The Miners wages, because OF the
dangerous and unhealthful condi-
tions of employment, have always in
normal times far exceeded those of
other unskilled and semi-skilled la
Dor, but as a result of their loyalty
during the war, and their signing of
an agreement for the duration OF
the war that precluded further in
creases in wages, they now find
themselves far below the scale and
standards Of other employment that
formerly received less for their la
Dor than the miners, and in order
that the mine worker may regain
his former status i'm this connection,
as well as to meet the abnormal in
craase in tho cost of liViuE il is pS-