Pueblo chieftain., 1921-09-02


Denver, Sept. 1.-Announcemen ent
was made this afternoon by the Colo
RADIO state Industrial commission of
notification by John McLennan. presi-
dent of District No. 1 3 of the United
Mine Workers. that all miners in the
Walsen and Cameron Coal mines OF
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company
had gone on strike today following
the putting in effect of reduced
wage scale.
The mines are said to employ 500
men. Officials OF the Colorado Fuel
& Iron company denied there was a
strike at either of the mines mention
ed.
]. F. welhorn. president OF the COM
pany declared that the mines in that
district have been working only part
time recently and that the mine at
Cameron was idle today because of
shortage of orders. II there is a strike
he declared company officials have
no knowledge of II.
A new wage scale based on a rcduc-
tion of approximately 80 cents an hour
of the Colorado Fuel & Iron company
mines in Southern Colorado according
to a statement by W. /. Reilly, mem
her of the state industrial commits
sion. Notice of the reduction as re-
quircd by the Colorado industrial law
was Ilifd nN lhe company Win AhN
commission on July 30, Mr.. Reilly's
statement said. He also stated that
company officials had informed him
the employees had accepted the re-
ductions. Under these circumstance.
he explained the Industrial commits
sion would take no further coEnizance
Of the affair intervening In wage and
hour changes only when II Is impos-
aible for the employer and employees
to reach an agreement.
Mr.. welhorn stated ,this afternoon
that the wage scale change waE adopt
ed at the proposal OF employees that a
return be made to the scale OF 1917
1919. based on wage of S5.25 for
mule drivers. He declared that em-
ployes at the Wslson mines had
agreed to accept the cut He did not
know whether the Cameron mino en-
ployes had voted for acceptance or
not. he stated.
Denial that the company had noti-
fled the Industrial commission OF the
proposed cut was made by Mr.. Wei
born. He declared that tho proposal
came from the employees themselves.
said to be affected to investigate con-
mission have been sent 10 the district
said to be affected invesigae con-
ditions. IT was announced at the Of
flee of the commission.
No statement Of the number of men
on strike has been received by the
commission. 1t was said.
walsenburg. Colo. Sep. No
tees were found posted at the coal
mines this morning announcing a cut
of from 80 to AZ per cent in wages.
This places the wage back to the
1917 figures.
only three men in this vicinity went
to work. and they cam. out later.
A mass mcsting was held at 2
~ N.E. al, IL ha fat
grounds. being called by means of
posters and telephone messages, and
1000 miners and others attended.
Many speeches were made. and while
expressions of opinion were warm,
there was the best of humor thruout
the meeting. Among those who made
addresses. were Frank Heffcrly and
District Organizer Cochran.
The miners aver that as wages have
been they cannot save 50 day. and
II $3.50 is cut off they cannot sec
how they can earn a living. n was
claimed by the speakers that the
United Mine Workers have a govern
ment contract as TO wage. and that
the c. f. & / company is seeking to
abrogate tho same. II was also stated
that men have of late been sent here
from the Minnoqua works but az soon
Us they get ON to conditions they go
back to Pueblo.
mines in this camp are working to-
day.
d. A Stout, manager Of the fuel de-
partnient Of the Colorado Fuel & Iron
company. with headquarters in Pueh-
10. asked about conditions In tho Wal
senburg camp. stated late last night
that after conforing with his superin-
tendcnts there. he believed all tho
mines that have business in that camp
will be working regularly today.
wslsenhurg. Colo, Sent Charges
that the Colorado Fuel and Iron com
pany had set aside the Rockefeller
plan of settling industrial disputes
we're made late tonight by miners
employed in the Watson and Robinson
coal mines of the company In explain
ing their attitude In refusing to work
today following posting of wage re-
duction averaging s. 80 day.
a local official Of the miners organ
isstlon said tonight that tho company
had forced miners tn sign n petition
asking for a reduction Of wages In
order to obtain more steady employ
ment He said tho alternative was dis
charge from employment
The Official denied the statement is
sued by the company in DeHver that
the mines were not to have been
opened today. He also denied that the
wage reduction wpp voluntary