The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-09
Summary of Mining
Situation in Alabama
Good Huor of Men Gives Every Indication There Will Be
No Volence-Figures on Salaries Drawn by Some
of the Miners at Empire in October
BY FRANK ". EVANS

neration for services performed in latter
months
UNCALLED FOR STRIKE
In its last analysis this is the most
uncalled for and unprovoked strike" in
the history of mining in Alabama 1t
smacks strongly of desire on part of
radical leaders to wound or smack n
prosperous industry, just now so essen
tial to the welfare and happiness of all
the people. A desire to extract the milk
from the COW in her rich months. These
leaders fail to suggest to the miners that
hard work is the real medicine for the
ambitious man or to impress the truth
that idleness cannot be made profitable
The object of the union leaders appar-
emily is not to increase the efficiency OF
production, but to obtain and hold a
position of authority for themselves; that
there may be brought about an exchange
of managers from owners of mines 10
labor leaders and agitators.
The commission of the National Indus
trial Conference board, in its report on
| Industrial conditions, seems to cover the
proposition when it says, There is no
otlssr permanent way to bring about
higher wages than by creating higher
individual productivity" and again that
report says: The remedy for industrial
discomfort is not to be found in the con-
/ tiuSlbil Ol all idDOTeTS III the u1lloiSt itpi
the establishment of means for joint dis
cussion. but rather the creation of such
normal national point of view on both
sides as will allow of cooperation to-
ward increasing productivity"
COMMISSION RECOMMENDS
The main recommendations Of the com
mission to American industry is briefly
stated in the following quotation from
the final paragraph of the report:
Each employer should regard it as his
personal duty to establish direct an ] cor
dial relations with his workers. 1t VIII
not do to drift into a policy of neglect,
as have some employers in the past,
which has borne such bitter fruit in the
dissatisfaction of the present day. The
employer must see to it that no charge
can be brought against him of not intel
ligently looking out for the interests OF
the rank and file in his establishment.
For us the point IL that everything
depends upon the spirit of humanity and
sympathy which animates both parties 20
the wage contract . The employer
must take the Lead much in the way OF
leadership is expected of him. He must
generally plan to prevent grievances from
rising by showing a genuine interest in
a fair system of remuneration, in health
full shop conditions, the proper and sani-
tary housing of his workers, and the well
fare of the community in which his plant
is located If he is really at heart try
ing to raise the standard of living, as
he ought, of his employees, he should,
moreover, be occupied not only with the
questions of wages or material rewards,
but with matters which will cultivate the
intelligence, morals and character of men.
Granting this attitude of mind, them
there must be corresponding point OF
view on the part of labor if any perma-
nent and peaceful adjustment Is to be
accomplished
SITUATION AT EMPIRE
Here at the Empire mines this sug-
gestion is carried out to the letter and
demonstrated forcefully by the coy and
comfortable houses provided for the
miners the sanitary condition of the
mining village, the churches and
| schools which embelish this hill, the
| pure deep well water and the salubri-
| Gus atmosphere. AS to compensation
| of miners for services rendered, this
| writer takes from the books of the
company the following compensations
awarded miners for the month of Octo-
Der just passed:
T. Brown (white). s371.s2; J. H.
O'Neal (white). s264.67; Will owden
(colored, s111.44; Dave Nelson (col-
ored), $115,40; Pete Sims (colored),
s11535; George Ross s270.S4; Bess
Hoyent, St3S.9o Dave Simpson (white)
s29S 90; Harry Kent (colored), $145.65;
v. J. Jones (colored). s173.40; Ernest
Elliott. $196.95; George A. Davis (col-
ored), $139.S5; Will Wilson (white),
s1744o; Grey Stocks (white), s17435;
Luther Miles (colored), $163.50; Tom
Atkins (white). s1S6.15; Ray Atkins
(white), $167.15; Charles Ford (white),
s33SSS; Henry Headly (white), $16705;
Bill Ward (white). s513S.30; F. o. Aired
(white), 10000; George Pless CWhite),
s325.95; w. G. Wilson (white), S250.4S;
George Dagum (white), s15640; Cor
dose Title (white), s22655; Will Rob-
erts (white), s267.30 Ed Roberts
(white), s267So; Ed Roberts -(white),
$3S940; Claude Tate (white), $272.52;