South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-09
PRE- WAR ISSUES
INVOLVED IN new
MINERS STRIKE
Coal Case is Marked by Long
Strife, Dating Back TO
1910 at Mobile.

TIE miners OF the soft coal fields IS
% long standing
officials Of the mining depart
ment OF the American Federation OF
Labor. in reviewing conditions and
events which led up TO the present
difficulties 60 back 20 1915. when "a
wage agreement was secured 81 the
miners at a conference with the op-
orators Oh Mobile. Ala This agree
raeut was signed az New York city
on Feb. % 1916. and lt provided
for an advance OF three cents ton
at the basing profits and the. adOp-
tion-of the mine run system through
the central competitive field
About the time this agreement
went into effect the war in Europe
began 20 cast its shadow in the
United States There were increases
Ira the cost OF living which was said
10 have resulted partly from the
purchase OF large quantities Of sup
pines n this country for the allied
governments.
Decided Wages Inadequate.
The coal miners decided that their
wages were inadequate. and many Of
the workers began 90 leave the mines
Cor healthier and better paid Jobs on
the surface
Relations between the operators
end their employees became badly
strained, so an informal conference
OF the central competitive field con-
vened in Indianapolis in April. 1917.
This meeting resulted in an inter
state conference Of the same parties
I'm New York city about the middle
tf the same month An agreement
vas reached at the New York con-
ference 20 run until March 81. 1918,
providing for an increase of 10
GEMS a ton on pick and machine
mining rates and an Increase Of SO
cents per day on day work, with no
advance on yardage and dead work.
A prices continued 20 go up, the
committee on coal production was
organized as part OF the Council OF
National Defense in an effort to
bring about a more stable condition.
The operators. the miners and the
public were represented on this COM
mittee. The committee. which was
later succeeded by the United States
fuel administration, called a meet
ing of coal operators from all coal
producing states and secured an
agreemnt for the lowering of the
prices OF bituminous coal as a tenn
porary measure until a comprehen-
sive survey could be made and more
equita bic prices established.
Advance Given I'm 1917.
Another Joint conference Of opera
tors and miners was held in Wash
incton I'm September. 1917. which
lee TO an agreement providing for
an advance of $40 a day for day
workers and a Is per cent advance
On yardage.
After this conference and as con-
dtions continued TO grow worse the
miners tried TO get -he fuel admin
istIator TO call another meeting to
discuss the situation. but were un-
successful
When the national convention Of
the United Mine Workers of Amer
Tea was held in Cleveland. the miners
formulated demands for a 60 per
cent increase in wages, a siX-hOur
day and a hve-day week The de-
mands were submitted to the opera
tors az a Joint conference in Buffalo,
y. Y. on Sept. %. 1919, but were
not accepted. The same thing hap
pened at another joint conference
IN Philadelphia in October.
The operators had evidently been
advised" according to James Lord.
president OF the mining department
o. the American Federation of La
Dor. that the Lever law could and
would be construed to deny the right
of the miners to cease work In the
event an agreement could not be
reached So they forwarded a policy
which they knew could only result
an the failure Of negotiations. rely
ing on this advice that the miners
couIc easily be stopped by the gov
eminent from exercising their eco
nomic power.
Strike Naturally Ensued.'
THE strike naturally ensued The
belief Of the operators that the min
ers were 20 be restrained by the gov
eminent from striking was the d.
rect cause Of Che strike. The miners
could not continue 90 accept wages
watch represented am actual reduc-
tior In real remuneration. All the
operatives have ever recognized. the
Only argument they ever did or viii
recognize. IS potential resistance.
This resistance they believed was
taken away from the miners by the
Lever law
This. that the existence OF what
has been construed as antl-strike
law caused the miners strike. IS evil
denced by the fact that prior 20 the
existence Of such law there had been
no general stoppase of the work IN
the mines because Of the failure 10
reach an agreement since Joint rela-
tions had been I'm VIC e'
The coal strike vas called. a.
scheduled. on Nov on oct H.
SeCy OF Labor William 3. Wilson
has called a Joint conference with
out result on oct. q Atty. Gen.
Palmer secured an injunction from
Judge A. q. Anderson IN the United
States district court at Indianapolis
restraining the miners from striking
and ordering John l.. Lewis. the
PRESIDENT and other officials OF the
United Mine Workers Of America 20
revoke the strike order This was
done but many of The men did not
return 10 work.
After q series OF conferences,