The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-20
Miners need FAIR
WAGES AND WORK,
OPERATOR SAYS
High Wages "On Paper
Without Work viii Not
Satisfy Workmen's
Needs.
MINERS UNION URGED
TO DROP RADICALS
international Heads Should
Not Support Lawless Sub
ordinates Taylor Says.

ordinates Taylor Says.
CHICAGO, Oct. 20-A paper high
scale wage with no work will not help
the miner, but fair wage scale with
regular work will build his yearly
earnings TO basis of American living
and allow tho coal operator TO offer
cheap fuel to the consumer and re-.
duce the Producing cost Of all com
modilies, Harry NJ Taylor Of Kansas
CITY, vice president of the Contra!
Coal and Coke Company, told dele.
gates to the American Mining Con
sresS here today.
Following that assertion with The
statement that hc personally had the
highest regard for labor unions, fair
~ conducted" as he termed il. Mr..
Taylor said the unions had an oppor-
tunity to play leading part in the
national roadjustment and urged that
they take advantage of it.
IF, however" he said, "the miners
justment of an abnormal wage scale
and on April !, call nationwide
strike, the operators must assume u
public duty Of standing for. the public
rights and the well thinking men of
, this country must stand behind them
in the battle for the good of Ameri-
can industry and American freedom
against labor autocracy"
Mr.. Taylor declared that he had
learned from personal observation that
the labor union had done much for
the wage Garner and had, in many
instances. brought him comfort and
contentment that otherwise could not
have been producer.
Must BE Purged of Radicals
"But the miners organization must
! be purged." he said. "of the radical
smd revolutionary leadership that has
| sprhhg up in many districts before ii
can hope to regain It's standing in pub.
lie esteem. The leaders. especially
! those of national authority among the
/ United Mine Workers. must refrain
from giving their support To lawless
characters who happen temporarily
/ 10 be- In office in several Of the dis
| tricts
! Had the United Mine Workers been
I content 10 confinc their effort tn pro-
curing proper working conditions and
/ the payment of reasonable wages. and
/ the encouragement of efficiency and
I individual effort on the part Of the
membership. they could have main
! tained the good will Of the public
which they had a few years ago
Many Of the leaders. in their greed
for power. have become more and
more unreasonable. until they are
making It impossible for many mines
TO operate. Perhaps only when they
have driven the mining industry tC
the open shop. will they learn that
through their greed they have lost al
the conservative leaders OF former
years had gained for them"
Criticises CheclS.off System
Mr.. Taylor criticised adversely that
part Of the contract between the op
orators and miners known as IN,
chcck-off system. Originally, he said
IL was designed 10 check off nomina
dues and sick benefits. Today. he as
serted, It's purpose Is abused until II
has become menace to public wei
fare and is used to check off larg,
percentage Of the mems wages.
"Thc vast sum obtained" he said
"is used for purposes FAR remote from
I f,,t.u.t.I tv, s.t.rtpuI t..t
The hugo sums have been expended
to carry on u lawlcss war condition II
more than one non.union coal produc
ing states. These funds have been di
vertcd In another state and used fol
the defense of the |. W. W.'s unde
arrest for offensos against the law
OF the nation. It was the vast sun
created by the check off which mad'
conceivable tho nationwide strike o
November 1919. when people wer'
threatened for freeing an effort on th'
part of the miners TO enforce their de
mnnds.
"Thc chcck-off cnslavcs the ranl
and file OF the miners organization
Tho individual miners earnings ar,
taken from his pay envelope In tn
proportion lovlcd upon Inn and tn
funds are often needed for radical pro
pnganda. in which he Il not personally
Interested. and to which he Is fre
qucntly opposed.
although the contract distinctl!
provides that nll men shall remain n
work while disputes are being adjust
ed. that clause In the contract IL al
most universally disregardcd."