The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-25
UUhL oa LIIh lUlIO'
TRYING TO GET.
ADJUSTED.
Give out Exchange Of.
Communications On
the'subject

DEER PARK HOTEL. July 25.
One Of the most Important Incl
dents Of the meeting Of the North
ern West Virginia Coal Operators.
association which was held here
Friday and Saturday OF last week
was the publication of corresponds
.ence between the association and
the West Virginia Headquarters
Of the United Mine Workers re-
latiye to adjustment Of the wage
scale in effect in northern West
Virginia to bring It into line wits
the scale paid in Pennsylvania.
This correspondence is as follows:
June 90, 1921 district IL Unit
ed Mine Workers Of America,
Fairmont, w. Va.
Gentlemen: The advisory board
Of the Northern West Virginia
Coal Operators association respect
fully invites your early consider
alton on return to normally In
mine wages. The mines in the
Fairmont district are working
about 40 per cent and are meet
ing competition in normal mar
kets from districts where the
wages have been put back to the
1917 scale The public is entitled to
q decrease in cost OF coal equiyal.
ent to decrease in cost Of other
living commodities and necessities
OF life. Approximately so per cent
of the cost OF producing coal is
labor cost, which is dependent en-
tirely on the scale rate agreed to
by operators and miners. A prompt
reply will be accepted. Very truly
yours. Advisory Board, Northern
West Virginia Coal Operators AS
ISOLATION
: CHARLESTON, W. Va, June
27.-The Advisory Board North.
ern West Virginia Coal Operators
Association, Fairmont. w. Va.
Gentlemen: Your letter of June
22nd was handed me on my ar.
rival to Charleston setting forth
your views for coal and its de-.
preston and the necessity or re.
turning to Normally. I shall take
this matter up before the board
for decision after which I will set
fort our views OF the matter in a
communication TO your associa-
ton. Very respectfully. c.. F.
Keeney, president No. IL.
Charleston, w. Va, July g
1921-The Advisory Board Of the
Northern West Virginia Coal
Operators Association, Fairmont,
w. Va.
"As promised in my former
communication your corSnunica.
ton Of June 22nd was presented
to the district executive board
the board discussed contents OF
your letter at length. They recos-
nzie the conditions and prices tiat
prevail in fields adjacent to the
one which your association covers.
Due to the fact that the West
Virginia operators cannot give an
increase In wages until an in
crease is agreed upon the central
competitive states they are unanf
1nously OF the opinion II there are
to be an adjustment in the wage
rates It should come from tho
central competitive states which
they would be willing to meet in
Justice to the operators that deal
with our organization.
with well wishes, I remain-
very respectfully yours (signed)
G. F. Keeney, president. District
No. IT."
The operator cof northern West
Virginia are keenly alive to the
demand Of the public for a reduc.
ton in prices of all necessities In
order that confidence may be-
created as a foundation for an i'm.
proyement in business like other
basic industries the labor cost OF
a ton Of coal forms q very large
part of the total and before any
further lowering OF prices can be
accomplished there must be an
agreement with the labor unions
to reduce the scale Of wages the
operators have made and will
continue to make. An earnest eff
fort to negotiate tAis agreement
80 that there may be a reduction
in the price of coal commensurate
with the decline in. price Of other
basic commodities.