Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-14
Claim Check-Of
Vital to Life -
of Labor Union

lndianap polls, Ind. Nov. 12-Like the
frogs that appear in the sandy wastes
of Texas following the infrequent
rain storms, or the earthworms that
crawl ont on steaming pavements of
northern cities after summer showers
the CHECK off" system which the
United Mine Workers of America pro-
pose to defend, with a nationwide
strike as their weapon, has sprung
from a mysterious source. 1t has no
birthday. 1t has just grown up. TN
til the present time it has been passed
by unnOticed while other principles
have been fought over by miners and
operators.
The check off has never been an
issue in the biennial wage con-
troversies between committees of the
operators and miners but has been
accepted. union officials say. as the
most convenient method of collecting
dues and assessments from members
of the organization. The check off.
however, is now considered almost
vital to the welfare of the union: in
fact, it is so essential that President
John T.. Lewis has sent word to dis
trict officers that discontinuance OF
the plan should be regarded as break
ing the existing wage agreements
with operators. A temporary injunc-
ton issued by Judge A.. r. Anderson
in L. S. district court forbidGing con-
tinuance Of the check-off prompted
Mr.. Lewis message.
Now that the controversy has
arisen miners and operators are CIV
ing serious consideration to the his
torcal development of the check of
system while the general public Won
ders what is the nature of this terse
technicality that threatens to stop
their fuel supply as winter approach
les
The check off. as explained by per-
sons familiar with the mining indus
try, is the plan by which the coal
compan MES deduct from miners wages
their dues to the union. their special
assessments. money due the COM
rany for supplies. rent OF company
houses and other incidentais such as
hospital service and maintenance of
A mine physician. Instead Of the
union member paving his dues direct
~ to local union officials the dues are
retained by the company and paid to
the secretary of the local union.
When the check off originated is
not clear. Some Of the older mem
hers Of the union declare that it was
first adopted in Indiana while others
Iof - ts1 nhin
dated it's use in the Hoosier state.
The check off. it is said. has had a
gradual growth being taken UP in the
various coal fields at different times.
It was first used by the companies to
deduct from miners wages the sums
due the company for rent and sup
plies With the growth Of the union
district agreements were formulated
by which the companies checked off
sthe miners dues.
! The peculiar conditions existing IN
the mining industry more than
twenty years "a go were in part re-
sponsible for the check off, 1t is also
pointed ont. AS the union grew and
gained strength it became a practice
at different mines for committees to
stand at the mouths OF the mines
and refuse to permit miners to enter
who had not paid their dues and thus
were not in good standing. 1t was
not uncommon that the non-payment
of dues was caused by the improvi-
dence Of the miner. The result was
chaos in the labor supply and finally
resulted in the operators agreeing to
deduct the union dues from the pay
Of the miners as means Of assuring
|the constant good-standing of the
miners. This condition is said to
have existed in a number of states.
The check-of had never been in