Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-26

Have you taken thought of your win
ter's coal?
1t is still under ground awaiting the
activities of the men about the mines to
bring 1t to the surface, load it on the cars
and start it toward your bin.
The activities of the men at the mines,
here and elsewhere, have been suspended
by order of the United Mine Workers.
We profess to be nothing more than
spectators Of what is going on in the
coal fields Of Illinois and Kansas, but the
proceedings there have such bearing
upon our condition in the Williamson
field that we are constrained briefly to
bring them to notice.
The strikers there are under solemn
contract, guaranteed by the officers Of
United Mine Workers, to perform certain
service at a stated rate of wages for
given term of years. In spite of this con-
tract, to which miners, operators and the
government Of the United States were
parties, the miners, under sanction and
protection Of the United Mine Workers.
laid down their tools and quit their work.
So fragrant was the violation of con-
tract in Illinois that the President of the
United States, when asked to provide a
Mine Workers organization for it's re-
peated violations Of contract. He said:
1T is with n feeling OF profound regret and
sorrow that 1 learned that many OF the mem
bers OF your organization, particularly in the
State OF Illinois. have engaged in a strike in
violation Of the award of the bituminous coal
commission, and your agreement with the gov
eminent that the findings Of the commission
would be accepted by you final and binding.
am distressed not only because your action in
coal which
had accepted may result in great suffering in
many households during the coming winter
trial and agricultural activity, which is the
basis OF the prosperity which you i'll common
with the balance of our people have been en-
joying, but also, and what is OF far more i'm
portance, because the violation of the terms OF
your solemn obligation impnirs your good name
destroys the confidence which is the basis of
all mutual agreements and threatens the very
foundation OF fair industrial relations No gov
eminent, no employer, no person having any
reputation to protect can afford to enter into
contractual relations with any organization
which Systematically repeatedly violates its
contracts"
In Kansas, the contention has not been
for higher wages, as in Illinois, but for
the acceptance Of a five-day week and a
six-hour day.
The contract in Kansas provides that:
pending final settlement of any dis
pute the mine shall continue in opera
ton and all miners, mine laborerS and
parties involved shall remain at work,
except discharged employees"
The interest of the Williamson field
operators in these strikes as we'll as the
7O5 other strikes called and maintained
by the miners in Kansas during fOrty-five
months, is the evidence that the United
Mine Workers do not keep their con-
tracts. This fact has been observed by
us, just the same as by the President Of
the United States, who made it the sub
ject OF a singing rebuke.
The cessation Of work in the William
son coal field is due to contest over the
organization Of this field by the United
Mine Workers.
The Williamson field operators find
themselves influenced by many valid OBJ
jections to the control Of the miners of
this field by the United Mine Workers.
We might, safely and easily, rest our
case with the public upon the charge
lodged by the President Of the United
States and justified by multitude Of
circumstances that they do not value and
enforce the contracts that they make
No business concern will, voluntarily, or
under pressure that it can avoid, accept
contracts not safeguarded by reliability
and good faith.
Permit us, now to draw this subject
to the attention Of those depending on
bituminous coal for the warmth of their
hearths next winter. We will presume
TIE WILLIAMSON COAL
t.. sgts. -. aAgsIls