Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-16
COLORADO. MINERS
FACE 50 PCT. SLASH
IN PAY ENVELOPES
FUEL AND IRON COMPANY POSTS
NOTICE ssWARNtNe MEN THAT
Z BIG REDUCTION iMPENDs IN
PAY--PREPARE FOR STRIKE OF
Employees

Denver. Colo. Nov. 16.-Notice of n
general wage reduction Of approx
mately 30 per cent to take effect to-
morrow morning in thirteen OF the
company's twenty.six coal mines in
Colorado, was posted at the head.
quarters Of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company here this morning. The
order reducing wages directly affects
about $500 men employed in mines in
Las Animas and Huerfano counties.
None OF the company's mines in FIRE.
mont and GunniBon counties are af-
fected.
According to a statement by Fred
Farrar, general counsel for the com.
pany officials expect strike that will
shut down temporarily all the mines
affected that are now in operation. 1t
is ALSO expected that the men employ
ed In the company's five mines in
Fremont courtyard in the two Gun.
nison county mines will walk out in
support Of the Las Animas and Huer-
fano county employees.
1t is the contention of the company
that the reduction Of wages is being
put into effect in accordance with
agreements with the employees of the
mines affected which were made last
August. At that time it is claimed by
officials the men circulated petitions
asking that in order to increase their
working time their wages be reduced.
The company executives declared a re-
duction of wages to take effect Sep
TENDER /, whiciI would establish the
scale in effect from November /, 1917
to November 20.I1919.
The Colorado Industrial commission
took jurisdiction in the matter and
after preliminary hearing set aside
the scale of wages in effect prior to
the wage reductions and re-established
September 4, pending a final hearing
the Industrial commission authorized
the proposed wage reductions and
found that the agreements made with
the company's employees last August
were valid and binding.
1t was statedSat the company's of.
fees this morning that no arrange.
ments had been made for filling the
places of strikers in case strike is
called. u
An official statement issued at the
executive Offices, here signed by J. +.
Welborn, president of the company
2 The reason attuating the company
in making this reduction are impera-
tive need for cheaper fuel for the steel
mills at Pueblo, in order to enable the
company to compete with eastern
steel mills, and the need of lower
prices of coal on the part of the public
and the railroads and other consum.
ers.
Kansas MineB Ordered Back.
Pittsburg. Kansas, Nov. ia show
down in the Kansas coal fields looked
here today when an order by repre-
sentatives OF the international mine
workers union becomes effective di-
recting all strikers in the fields to 20
back to the pits this morning Fail
ure to obey the ,edict will bring revo-
cation of local charters and automatic
suspension OF the members the order
says.
1t was impossible early today to de-
termine how generally the notice was
being obeyed, Representatives of the
international here and spokesman for
the operators were declaring that most
of the men would return while officials
of the administration of w. M. Howat, |
president of the Kansas district de- |,
posed lately on order of John l. Lewis.
international president said that few
of the men would obey.
About 10000 miners went on volun
tary strike when Howat and August /
Dorchy, vice president were sent to