The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-04
ONLY 81 MINES
WORKING TODAY
N The REGION
More Wage Reduction
Talk is Echoed Over
the Field
SHIPMENTS SLUMP
Local People Land Poca-
hontas Contract for
the Northwest

No great change has taken place
in the ccal fields locally tcChy.
Perhaps ir anything considering
the limited prediction and the
growing mine idleness things are
Just a slight bit worse, although
the situation varies so greatly that
improvement and backsets come in
streaks. The general situation as
q whole has not put any happier
phase thus far in regards to the
Fairmont region.
It is the opinion Of some opera
tors that this month will be even
duller than July. when the produc-
ton dropped away back. Whether
this will result that way is a mat
ter of conjecture but at this time
buoying up any ones hopes aud
optimists are very few and far be-
tween. Some Of the more pessi-
mistic think there will be no coal
business before the latter part Of
September or October and only a
limited amount now. While pro-
ductlon Is running away behind in
the country as awhole there Is 1T
tie 70 indicate that any large ton.
mage viii be needed sum hjisis
ness comes back with, a whtfl 4 II.
the fall and winter, which 10 Ehard-
lys ysprobable:
Operators appear to be Of the
opinion that miners should agree
to a wage cut and say, that they
coul dat least land some business.
The Connellsville ?and Somerset
fields they declare, have the long
end Of the stick in the argument
for eastern business due to the fact
that the miners there are working.
on a 1917 wage scale.
In the region recently there has.
been considerable comment upon
remarks mad by T. w. Guthrie, OF
Pittsburgh, president Of the Hill.
man Coal and Coke company when
he addressed the meeting OF the
Northern West Virginia Coal ope.
rators' association at Deer Park,
Md, He said:'
" lido not come here representing
the Central Competitive field. j
can give You no message from
them. am not authorized to rej-
resent the Pittsburgh Coal Produr
ces' association. I am here In the
capacity OF president OF the Hill-
man Coal and Coke company, with
one mine in your district. l be-
lieve that a reduction in wages
should be accomplished. Just how
this may be done am free to con-
fess l am not clear, but believe
that the non-uniou situation will
be such in the very near future
that It will be practically impos-
sible for tho union mines to oper.
ate-our own among the number.
We can wait until the first Of
April, in the meantime the nou.
union people will have taken such
business as exists, possibly on
contracts that will rnu after the
first of April, and after the first OF
April We will be confronted with
a continued idleness until we are
able to get in the market again
with such prices as We can / do
not like the idea Of breaking "a
contract but It seems to me that
the situation is becoming rapidly
such as will force the attention OF
the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea. That Is about all I have to
say"
LandIs' Decisions
Coal tradesmen have also been
commenting upon number OF
points made by Federal Judge Ken
esaw Mountain Lands, Chicago,
when he passed on the legal phase
OF agreements between unions and
contractors organizations in Chi.
cago. where it was contended a
restrictive character existed which
tended to increase building costs
unnecessarily and were ordered alb
rogated.
Fundamentals which Judge Lam
dis insisted must underly all work
ing agreements Of labor unions and
contractors associations are as fol
lows: "Monopollstic elements OF
associations or unions are intoler-
able unless the public is served
more economically with them than
without them; unless anyone quail.
flied may join them without hind.
rance and discrimination; unless
they serve anyone on demand With
out determination; unless suffi-
cient apprentices be taught to sup,
ply enough skilled managers and
workers and unless working rules
toouttaued On paes fourl