The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-31

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Mine Workers of America. and
which will affect over 100000 coal
miners.
Every effort is being put forth by
the coal operators to misrepresent
and distort the true facts and con-
ditions which exist in the coal min
ing industry. They are desperately
trying to convince the public that
if they concede the demands of the
Miners that it will increase the cost
of coal to the consumer 1907, when
the real facts in the case are that
the coal operators could concede the
demand of the miners and still
maintain reasonable profit on
their investment. During the war
many coal operators have made fab
ulous fortunes, having made from
five to ten times the profits they
made during pre-war times, and
they are very reluctance to let loose
any portion of these enormous prof
it's; further, it is their announced
intention to continue their policy
of profiteering during times of
peace.
The miners strike demand for
shorter workday is justified, and the
following facts may prove interest
ing to those not fully acquainted
with the conditions that exist in the
coal mines.
The coal mines of the United
States are working today at least
az hours, which are longer hours
than are worked by any other coal
miners in the entire world. Great
Britain has a seven-hour day. Ca
madam miners have an eight-hour
day from bank to bank, which is one
and one-half hours shorter workday
than the miners of the United States
enjoy. France and Germany enjoy
shorter workday than the coal min
ers of America. These practically
cover the coal producing territories
of any consequence in the entire
world. This condition of long hours
of work in the coal mines of the
United States is almost inconceiv-
able and certainly intolerable, when
you take into consideration that the
United States produces more than
500 of the coal of the entire world,
and at a cost of approximately 400
'of what it costs to produce coal in
Great Britain.
Aside from all of this, it is nee
essary that the miners demand for
a six-hour day be conceded so that
employment can be furnished in the
coal mines for the $4,000 returned
soldiers and sailors who are now re-
turning to the mines to take up
their occupation which they left to
go into the service. In addition to
this, we find that the future demand
for coal will be at least $50 less
than what it was during the war pc
riod, during which time there was
an abnormal demand for coal. Sta
tistics will show that during this
abnormal demand for coal that the
miners of the United States only av-
eraged approximately four days
work each week, and considering
that 10000 men had left the coal
mines TO go into the service proves
beyond question the necessity OF
substituting the siX-hour workday
for the present nine and one-half
hour workday in the coal mines of
the United States.
The average earnings of the coal
miner during the war was less than
$1,400 a year. Government Stats
tics will bear out this statement.
Government statistics will also show
that it takes $4,000 a year for the
average family to maintain decent
American standard of living, and in
dustrial unrest will continue just
so long as the workers are denied
decent standard of living by prof
iteers who fight to continue their
fabulous war time profits during
times of peace at the expense of the
workers.
The 500 increase in wages is of
vital Importance when it is an ac-
knowledged fact that the coal min
ers only received an average in
crease in wages approXimating
about $50 during the last seven
years, while the cost of living has
increased approximately 1907, so
that the miners demand for a 60 %
increase in wages, if conceded, will
only help the miners to keep pace
with this abnormal increase in the
cost of living, which has taken place
during the war.
LABOR NOTES