The Ward County independent., 1922-11-02
Frazier's Conception of Reasonable
Coal Prices


On October Is, 1919, coal strike
was called by the United Mine Work
crs. Governor Frazier telegraphed to
John Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers, asking him, IF COM
patinIe," to let the miners in North
Dakota remain at work. He received
a reply informing him that his re-
uuest had been referred TO Henry
brennan. of Billings, Montana, presi-
dent of the North Dakota Montana
district Of the United Mine Workers.
MIR. brennan came to Bismarck, and
supported by Governor Frazier, he
submitted a demand on the mine oper-
ators that the wages of the North
Dakota miners be increased 60 per
cent, cqlivalent 10 S24 a week, the
increase not to be paid to the miners
b2t to be paid into the treasury of the
rnicn to be used for strike benefits.
1t was estimated that the increase in
wages would mean an increase in the
price Of coal of from $3.50 to $500
per ton. Governor Frazier stated to
the mine operators that he would as
: Lme responsibility for this increase
in price.
The mine operators refused to
cause Of the wage increase and the
fact that the miners were under con-
tracts which did not terminate until
September, 1920, but also because the
agreement proposed might be held by
acy to increase the price of a neceS-
sity. Altho Mr.. brennan told them
that "if the government interfered"
b<, +,f, of
satisfy the operators.
November 10th, Governor Frazier
issued proclamation in which he
proclamation reads in part as fol-
lows:
"The officials Of the United Mine
promptly, modifying the strike order
by suspending the strike. They sug-
gcsted conference with me, which |
granted, and following which | also
invited the mine operators for a con-
ference. At the conference the Unit
ed Mine Workers made certain pro-
posals which under the circumstances
in this crisis appeared reasonable to
me, and | presented them to the mine
ope rators, who seemed fairly disposed
and apparently We're ready to accept
them; but later there developed
among the majority of the operators,
principally thru the agitation of one
Of their number and an attorney, an
Indifferent attitude, and an admission
on the part of the operator that all
his company was after was profits.
The public welfare or the suffering of
the people seemed to be a secondary
consideration.
at may become apparent that
there were certain forces at work to
prevent the operators from reaching
a conclusion and that the delay had
become the sole purpose Of the ruling
factors. 1t is an interesting COM
mentary upon the attitude Of the mine
operators that the proposals which
were presented to them, if accepted,
would have caused them no financial
loss"
The last sentence quoted is ex-
planned when it is remembered that
it was proposed to raise the price of
coal So as to make up for the in
creased wages. The miners at that
time were receiving from S5 to $12
Der day. In compliance with Judge
Anderson's injunction the officials Of
the United Mine Workers called off
the strike November 18th, but on No
ycn,bcr 18th, Governor Frazier, after
:, three hours conference with Mr..
brennan who came from Billings at
his request, issued a proclamation
,. tanning martial law and seizing
the coal mines in North Dakota