Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-20
Coal Miners and Railroad
Men Will Consider Strikes
This Week-TWo and a
Half Million Men Involved
BY HARDEN CoEFAX
Ieased Wire Service to The Journal)
(Cnnvrioht 1921

TWO ana One-half mlll1On men are
involved. Whether the country will
continue to go forward in it's reviv
ing prosperity or receive a setback
comparable to the slowing down in
England after the miners strike
is to be determined largely by labor
leaders at Chicago and indianapolis.
An alliance between the railroad
workers of the country and the ma
tons coal mine employees, somewhat
similar to the offensive and 1efen-
sive agreement Of the triple alliance
Of miners, railway men and trans
port workers in England-an alliance
whose bonds snapped at the test,
fowever-is among the possibilities
For years union officials Of ad-
vanced thought have dreamed of
such a partnership here. 1t appears
within their grasp the coming week.
While the railroad employees lead
ers meet in Chicago TO canvass and
announce the strike vote, the miners
meet in indianapolis to shape their
policies for the next two years and
to elect officers to lead them dur
ing that period. In the one case
it seems almost certain that John
l.. Lewis. the present union head,
will lead the miners again and that
he will stand fast and firm on a
platform declaring against reduc-
tons in the war time wage scale
now in effect. 1t Is likely that the
miners will demand an increase. In
the other case indications point to
a decision of the rail workers to
strike in protest, largely, against
reduction in overtime pay.
Have Much in Common
1t is a fact not generally known
to the public that between the
miners and the rail workers there
exist the deepest bonds of sympa-
thy. Both have much in common.
Both come in close contact through
their work. In the past, here and
there, rail workers have shown many
times their fellow-feellng for strik
ing miners. Instances are on record
where this feeling was translated
into unWillingness on the part of
union labor, working on railroads, to
handle the product CT non-unton
mines in time of strike.
No one can tell what fifteen hum
dred or more men, meeting in con-
vention. to discuss the grievances
and shape wage demands, will do
That will be the situation at Indian
apolis next Tuesday when the United
Mine Workers of America open their
biennial convention. There is al
most certain to be much discussion
of the present part-time working
week-in many. fields but two days
out of the s;x-the scanty earnings
of the miners even at present high
wages and action to increase these
earnings. True the small earnings
are due to the general lack of de-
scale, for if every man had a full
days work, the pay envelope would
be sufficient. But that situation
will be dwarfed by the reality of
the fact that at the present time,
with the exception Of certain favor
ed localities, miners are receiving
minimum pay.
1HJSCI l1LO lIldI SlLudllOI pIO-
jected railroad strike and the match
may be applied to the powder. Any
one of twenty radical leaders at In
dianapolis is ready to propose ar
alliance with the railrC ad workers.
to link fortunes and win or lose
together. BY such an alliance the
miners would have all to gain and
ers go out on strike the miners
can't work any how. The coal mines
work from hand to mouth, idleness
or activity being determined pri-
marily by the car supply. And as
a rail strike means no cars, the
mines would stand idle.
Coal Industry Troubled
The whole situation in the coal
industry is beset with trouble. In
West Virginia and Illinois there
have been disorders and marching
men, with grievances, real or fan
cied, to remedy.
In Washington the unions are
fighting for what they term chance
to live. In Kansas radical leaders
HhVe upset the Industry IIIle dlIer
time within the past II months by
strikes and Interruptions to work.
In union fields competitive to nom
union areas operators have sought
unsuccessfully to bring about wage
cuts.
And Gaping the climax comes now
the formulation of wage demands
for the next two years. Also for
the first time the anthracite and
hituminous workers frame these de-
mands to go into effect on the SAM
date-March 81, 1922. Heretofore
pired on dates different from the
expiration of the bituminous mems
contracts. An anthracite strike saw
the bltumlnous men at work; a btu
miners busy. This time a Strike
would affect both branches.
Naturalization of mines also is
coming up, in more vigorous fash
ion than before at the Indianapolis
meeting. The miners want the gov
verted to their belief many mon
influence and power who have seen
the mounting prizes of coal and fail
advocates are in the United States
senate. In fact, the present senate
committee Investigating the situa-
ton in West Virginia is reported to
be considering recommendation
that the government take over the
non-union fields in that state.
The union miners are for such &C.
ton Whole-heartedly. They are look
ing forward to wholesale indict-
ments of their men in West Vir-
ginia as the result of the grand
Jury's investigation of the march
on Mingo. They would welcome
another deal.
Tanks to ''March'
Eyono AyLoncoc+oT ovoe