The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-27

'1Tteesf - tlfhAhhAks ~ 6Sal "
these matters, he said. Operators
IA piaefent states IN the central
ctnpatttitye fleldhad refused point
blank 70 meet the officers Of the
miners union ir Joint conference.
They haye absolutely ignored the
men 50 that theere Is little left for
the minrs 70 do, he declared.
What Is left for the men to do
Il this ttme7' he asked. THE
principles Of collective bargaining
have been denied the men. The
thing 70 do 10 to see that collective
bargaining rs retained. 1t Is ques.
ton as 10 whether the miners will
Or VII not strike after April /. L
Tor one. gentlemen, will vote my
ballot for "a strike because the
operators have not offered tina
men anything except a reduction
Ia wages and the open shop.
Every miner will be called upon
% use his Judgment, l know that
the majority Of, the men have the
same sentiment as /. The only al
tentative is to go back to 'scab.
bing. know you ~ not want
10 30 back scabbing.
Before / would go to work
would say. 10 the3 men who made
this scale IL they want coal pro-
dueed let them go and get 1t out
Themselves at that price. No Off
cial was ever In conference in re.
gard TO q wage scale except once
and that was when operators
wanted to put reduced wage
scale into effect.
Urges Loyalty
ME- lAiello urged his hearers to
be loyal 10 the United Mine Work.
ers Of America. Tell the coal
companies to go in and load and
hanl the coal themselves" he
INDEED. He felt that union miners
we're obliged to strike on that
tApril - unless conditions
In conclusion, Mr.. Aiello said
tbereis nothing else to do. I'm
going To vote yes for a strike.
And when we do go into q strike,
don't wiggle. ! don't know the
outcome, but / hope the members
VIII line up. Before going back TO
work the miners Will have to be
representa-
Sees No Fear Ahead
Charles II. Bailey was then in
ttoduced "as a man who has been
in the labor movement since its
INCEPTION, In. his introduction
Mr. Bailey said that his was the
first oppornity he had to speak
10 the miners OF SCOTS Run. II
understand that the operators
nave posted notices to the effect
that on and after April / 1t will be
open shop for those who desire to
work. "a
mo United Mine Worker on
SCOTS Run or anywhere on April
j VIII go to work on these condt.
tons because they would cease TO
be United Mine Wo..:ers any
longer!
q know what's going to be the
outcome providing every United
Nine Worker is loyal to himself
and fellow members. In 1898, with
hut a membership of but 5000. the
United Mine Works by unit Of ac-
ton or combined action made a
Joint agreement in the central
competitive field for the 8 hour
day and the check-off, as well as
other fundamentals for the miner.
Today we have 100000 members.
.sWhenii hear the statement that
We are going through a critical sit.
nation, It, doesn't worry me. Only
sit a critical situation II the Unit
ed Mine Workers show a weak
ness Why do the operators de-
fiapdswe shall Abolish our organic.
alton and work under an open
shop? Because the United Mine
Workers OF America are alert.
Who is going to make the open
shop II there is one? How can
the coal operators make an open
shop unless the United Mine
Workers make it? Do you think
the mines OF scott's Run will work
open shop after April l unless you
do the work? 1t has always been
The men In and about the mines
that work them, not the compan-
oh, Go to Grass
At this juncture Uncle" Char
ley indulged in story telling. In
scotland q strike was on at one
time and some weak-kneed miner
went to the company with a plan
Of chow to beat the miners
Keep the mine down until the
men have to eat grass The head
Of the company. replied: That
won,t do. II the miners find. out
they can eat grass, they, never will
starye. Unless thet miners start
on the open shop they never will
TART Bailey declared,
understand that the policy
YOU are now pursuing and will on
Aprils1 Is the policy Of the United
Nine Workers OF America. The
officers have notified the opera
tors or the central competitive
iieldsi requesting a meeting be-
tween this and April /: If hey
fail to meet before April l, your
policy and that all over the nation
VIM be for, a general suspension
Of work on. April /, which will
continue until the operators of
central competitive field meet
70 establish a basic wage agree
lnent Gentlemen I'll guarantee
aereslilt. For every true United
Mine Worker 1t will be for a
suspension Of work IL the opera
tors will not agree TO a wage con-
ference. What policy have you to
plfsue but to protect your own
interests. II you don't you'll be
playinF into the hands OF the