The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-11-07

with the greatest coal strike In the
history Of the country now on ana
with the capitalistic press-which is
always looking to the interests of the
profteers and always antagonistic to
the best interests Of the working
manufacturing the real facts and
stimulating public sentiment against
the miners, it is up to the labor press
to give the real facts and reasons for
the strike Many of the public, mis-
understanding the situation, blame the
miners alone for what will be calam-
ity should the strike continue any
length of time While at the same
time the operators, rolling in the
wealth gained from the huge war pro
fits, lay back and laugh The follow
ing is the real reason for the strike
and should be read carefully and
thought over.
Two years ago a new scale was
negotiated with the operators. the
miners voluntarily agreeing that the
contract should "remain in effect dur
ing the continuation of the war" this
being the only definite date set for the
contract to expire However, a year
ago living prices had mounted to such
a point that Fuel Administrator Gar
field was asked if he could not in
crease the pay of the miners. This
was refused, and the miners contin-
ued at work, strictly observing their
agreement.
During the past year living prices
have risen steadily, and the miners,
at the Cleveland convention, decided
a new scale should be negotiated
failing in which they would go out
At the joint conference between rep
resentatives of the miners and the
operators, the latter positively refus-
ed to entertain any proposition look
ing to an increase in wages, claiming
the war was not over, as the senate
had not ratified the peace treaty, and
the old agreement remains in force.
This means that if the senate fails
to ratify the treaty the old contract
would remain in force indefinitely No
basis for an amicable adjustment was
offered by the operators. They sim
ply said they would consider no prop
osition looking to the opening of the
scale, and that settled it.
The miners are asking for go per
cent increase in wages and a six-hour
day. State and government statistics
for the years from 1913 to 1919 show
that the average incomes of the mine
workers in these four states for all of
those years was approximately as
follows: Illinois, $500 to $3.50; In
diana, $500; Ohio, 500; western
Pennsylvania, $500 1t will be noted
these figures include the year 1918,
during which time a record was estab-
llshed, more hours being worked and
more coal produced than in any other
year in the history of mining.
In the opinion of the miners there
is no good reason why the increase
in the cost of production resulting
from an increase in wages or shorter
hours of employment should be en-
tirely borne by the public. They be-
lieve that the coal opera tors can pay
an increase to the mine workers out
of the profits they have enjoyed dur
ing the war and which they now enjoy
The report of the investigation
made by the Federal Trade Commits
sion shows that the bituminous coal
operators made clear, net profit OF
from so cents to 81 per ton. This is
remarkable when the public takes into
consideration the fact that prior to the
war many bituminous coal operators
operated upon net profit of less thar
| 10 cents per ton. 1t is a matter OF
common knowledge that coal opera
tors during the war made fabulous
sums of money and that many indi-
vidual coal operators became million
aires.
While the operators were acquiring
these huge fortunes out of the profits
coal consumers were forced to pay fol
fuel during the war, more than $4,000