The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-08-09
DEADLOCK IN
WAGE DISPUTE
IN COAL FIELD


Workers TO Organize the 5000 min
ers In the Mingo county bituminous
coal field has precipitated a situation
which each side declares can only
end when II has won complete vic
tory. In the conflicts growing out OF
this move IL or more persons have
lost their lives. Wages, apparently.
form a secondary consideration. the
battle being ~ased around recogni-
,ion OF the union and the right TO
mine owners to employ private de-
tectives In and around the mines.
The men and the operators could
&c, together and settle this thing
were 4, not for the question Of the
mine guards said Charles p.
keeney. president OF district No. II.
United Mine Workers, who il in com
nand OF the union forces. "Bu, In
their present temper these men are
not 20 be fooled with. Right now
this situation is a powder mill"
There is no, d mineguard In
Mingo county. and there has not been
fer years" said George Rausewine.
secretary OF the Coal Operators as
soeiation. OF Williamson. Private
detectives are employed as other cor
porations employ detectives for in
telligenee work In and around their
properties. They are not used for
guarding the mines"
The question OF wages hinges on
the scale paid in the kanawha field.
The union leaders declare that adop-
tion OF this scale would increase the
earnings Of the miners in Mingo.
while the operators insist that their
miners. under the scale now in force.
are being paid more than II is pos
sibie for the Kanawha miners to
earn. However. little attention is
being paid TO that phase OF the con-
,roversy. Recognition Of the union
is the big issue.
The Mingo field includes all of
Mingo county and the mines along
the Kentucky side OF Tug river. a
shallow narrow stream which for
miles in this region forms the bousd-
airy between Kentucky and West Viz
ginia. High mountains rise abruptly
on each side of the river. their sides
covered with a heavy growth OF
bushes. Along the mountain sides
are the drift mines from which comes
the coal. and nesting In the narrow
valley are the little towns where live
the miners and their families.
Fully rs per cent OF the miners in
the region are native born. many OF
them the descendants Of pioneers
who entered the county more than
100 years ago. and who are proud OF
their lineage. Some foreign born
miners can be found in the camps.
while numbers OF negroes are en-
ployed. Often the miner owns
small acreage, for which In the plant
ing and harvesting, he will abandon
the mines.
In some places the miners live In
brick cottages, each having its gar
den plot and front porch. Such a
village Is Bordertown. where early
this month miners we're fired upon
from the rnountainside while going
TO work. In other villages the houses
are OF frame construction. each set
In its own garden plot. and for which
the miners pay at the rate of two
dollars per month per room.
Williamson. the center OF the re-
gion. is pleasantly placed in the val
ley. with substantial buildings and
good stores. The Mingo county
court house is one of the best struc- |
lures. but the city hall also is q com
plete office building. while there is
In course OF construction a theater |
which will cost &25O.O00. The 5000
residents Of the town very generally
enjoy the prosperity which has come
to the coal trade in the past few
years.
Early In the year the movement TO
organize the United Mine Workers
was inaugurated by President Keeney /
from district headquarters at Charles
ton. and organizers were sent into
Mingo county. They met with such I