Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-19

&SA az oA4A<1SO CaIlA 1l1N1dlld0OllS
miners again and that he will stant
| FAST and firm on platform declar
ing against any reductions in the wage
scale in effect now. 1t is likely tina,
the miners will demand an increase
In the other case indications point tc
strike in protest, largely, against 6
reduction in overtime pay.
1t is a fact not generally known
to the public that between the miners
and the rail workers there exist the
deepest bonds Of sympathy.
Both have much in common; both
come in close contact through their
work. In the past year, the rail
workers have shown, many times, their
fellow-feeling for striking miners.
Instances are on record where this
feeling was translated into unwilling
ness on the part of union labor, work
ing on the railroads, to handle the
product of nOn-union mines in time
of strike.
No one can tell what fifteen hun
dred Or more men, meeting in con-
vention to discuss their grievances and
shape wage demands. will do. That
will be the situation at indianapolis
next Tuesday when the United Mine
Workers of America open their con-
ference. There is almost certain to be
much discussion of the present part
time working week-in many fields but
two days out of the six-the scanty
earnings of the miners even at present
high wages and action to increase
these earnings.
Lack of Demand
True, the small earnings are due to
the general lack of demand for coal
and not the wage scale, for if every
man had a full days work, the nav
envelope would be sufficient That
situation will be dwarfed by the reality
of the fact that the the present time
with the expection Of certain favored
localities, miners are receiving mini
mum pay.
Inject into that situation a projected
railroad strike and the match may be
applied to the powder. Amy one of
70 radical leaders at Indianapolis are
ready to propose an alliance with the
rail workers, to link fortunes and win
or lose together.
BY such an alliance the miners
would have little to lose and much to
gain. If the railway men go on strike
the miners cannot work anyhow, and
as rail strike means no cars the
mines would stand idle
The whole situation in the coal in
dustry is beset with trouble. In West
Virginia and in Illinois there have
been disorders and marching men with !
grievances, real or fancied, to remedy. |
In Washington the unions are fight
ing for what they term a chance to
live. In Kansas radical traders have !
upset the industry time after time /
within the past II months by strike
and Interruptions to work. In union
operators have sought unsuccessfully
o bring about wage cuts.
Government Ownership.
And Gaping the climax comes now
he formulation Of wage demands for
he next two years. Also for the first
ime, the anthracite and bituminous
workers frame these demands to 20
nto effect on the same date-March
Il, 1922. Heretofore the anthracite
agreements have expired on dates diff
erent from the expiration of the
luminous mems contracts. An an
hracite strike saw the bitumnous
men. at work; bituminous strike
ime strike would affect both
ranches.
Naturalization of mines also is
oming up in more vigorous fashion
han before at the Indianapolis
leetintg. The miners want the gov !
rnment to take over the industry to
ationalize it. They have converted
0 their belief many men of influ-
nc and power who have seen the
counting prices of coal and failed to
ind check. Some of their a.lyo-
ates are in the United States SEN
tie. The present senate committee
,vestigating the situation in West
irginia is reported to be considering
recommendation that the govern
tent take over the non-union fields g
that state.
The union miners are for such ac- S
on and they are looking forward to
holesale indictments of their men in I
Vest Virginia as the result cf the &
and jurys investigation If the 9
arch on Mingo. They would vel b
ome another deal. i