The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-10

eutnumbessd the compapy's men BY
q large majority. But they we're not
there TO make troubIe
what happened was merely that
tho members Of the United Mine
Workers were holding . parade. with
no intsntion cf onuning any trouble.
That Il vas looked upon by the
operators m q hossiic demonstration
10 . piece OF news Ne had not heard
until now.
Tho ATTACH By operators on he
United Nine Workers 10 part Of the
senesal campaign against organized
iabog.
-Ths sp@s4pss ~ - Hrcks sus
agresmsnt; that ~ ere not - b
trusted: that the cuai Industry IN
Washington cannot bear the burden
Of wAxes demanded ~ the men. and
THAI the operators did not have an
agreement with the union extending
TO Aprii !. io,7--but what IL really
back Of Il all II that tho coal oper.
ssors want To break the union In this
stasA
Tho wsshineeen Coal Operators
association worked In harmony with
the United Nina Workers for many
years. and there was no talk Of the
faithlessness Of liz officers until now.
"Ons ~ the statements made by
the operators thru The Star u that
they entered into no formal agree.
menf with the United Mine Workers
10 cover working conditions and
wages until April 1. 1922. They are
careful TO point out In this conncc-
ton that there n no signed agree
ment. The very inststencc on this
word signed II proof Of the doubtful
position in which The operators find
themselves
Anyone who has any knowledge
NJ ali Of the workings Of the United
Mine Workers Of America, ana its
contracsural dealings with employ.
era know that Il does not make term.
por1ry agreements.
-what took place IN wen known.
and has repeatedly been told. In an
effort to adjust conditions In the
state . special commission was
named TO inquire into the facts and
mako report.
SAT RAISE WAS
WELL UNDERSTOOD
II began It's work In July, 1870.
and contaminated an agreement ef.
fcctive August OF that year.
"a short time after the miners Of
Illinois and Indiana. some i2o. 900 In
all. protested an award they had oh.
tanned from the government commits
slon--whlch must not be confused
with the special commission for the
state Of washington--as applying to
day men
Tho situation became 10 acute
that the Indiana and Illinois mines
had 70 be closed
AT this point President Wilson
ruled that II the miners Of Illinois
and Indiana would return 10 work
he would order a rc-opening OF the
national bituminous coal commits.
sion's award
THE miners returned TO work. and
at conferences si.5o a day additional
was granted tho day men.
The commercial coal operators Of
Washington agreed TO this additional
Increase with the rest
THE operators admit they signed
the agreement OF the special coal
commission extending until April.
1922. but did not sign the amended
agreement containing the additional
si.50 day afterward awarded.
II say again that the operators
know that when they agreed TO the
$3.50 award. after signing
The original award OF the special
commission. and posted notices TO
thnt effect that they were not
working under any temporary agree.
ment. and that II was understood by
all concerned that the terms agreed
on were to last until April. 1929.
when tho final Increase was
granted. the agreement reached by
the special commission went into ef-
feet. and the working out OF details
ut certain mines and signing the
completed document was only a for.
mality.
"As for tho contention that tho
United Mine Workers broke their
agreement In 1919 by going out on
strike. the position OF the union Is
that the war had then been over for |
nearly a year. and that It's contract |
had. as provided by it's text. expired.
The operators say that the mem
bcrs OF the United Mine Workers are
seeking by appeals TO the courts to |
retain possession Of their homes In