Bisbee daily review., 1922-03-10
SEPARATE SCALE
CContinued from Page one)

mp machinery to continue the four state joint conference.
 "The operators Of the Pittsburg dis trict," the statement continued, have determined they will no longer pur- sue this practice of wage scale mak ing This conclusion has been reach ed for the following reasons:
 "Ths practice of wage making means that the national officers of the United Mine Workers of Ameri- ca, with miners representatives from Illinois. Indiana. Ohio and western Pennsylvania, met with the repre- sentatives Of operators of these dis tricts and negotiate a wage scale for them. The miners organization thea used this wage scale as a base to fix wage scales in all union districts in the United States and Canada. The operators of the Pittsburg district believe this practice is economically unsouud
 The national officers Of the min ers' organization insist on following this practice because it enables them to control wage scales and policies over North America. Under +, their main purpose is to increase the DOW CT and strength of their national or ganiZation. They care nothing for | the economic rights of any particular district, nor are they interested in | the local operating and commercial l problems of this district. 1t is for | this reason they insist on no depart. ure from the practice of wage making | as heretofore carried on. This prac- l tice results in a scale which does not | give to the Pittsburg district a wage | scale which it's natural advantages and competitive surroundings entitle ! it to enjoy. A wage scale so negotiat ed results in a barter in trade of the economic strength Of the district.
 "The aim of the miners is to force { non-competitive coal market so that wages may be maintained at the un. usually high level That this is their purpose is established beyond ques- tior by their demand for no decrease in wages, six hour day and five days week, and by the frequent utterances Of their international president to the press.
 "We believe that the so-called four
 state agreement has outlived its use fitness, and is economically disas' llOuS lD lnb DtbI lultItSlS OI llIC DuD
 lie.
 Another reason that influences us
 in reaching this conclusion is that
 since the last agreement was made
 the miners officers and the opera
 tors, together with the companies
 with which they are connected, were
 indicted in the federal court of India
 ma, the indictment charging that this
 practice of collective bargaining is il
 restraint of trade and commerce un
 der the Sherman law. We think this
 criticism of the practice amply justi
 fies us, irrespective of the merits o the criticism, in refusing to partici : pate in such negotiations. We desire the public to thorough l Iy understand that we are not refus ing to meet the miners of this dis .trict collectively or otherwise. Wha : we are refusing to do it to enter ; l four states joint conference meetin: to fix a wage for the United States
 "The secretary of labor has als' , been notified of our willingness t' meet our men.
 , "The miners union is endeavorinl to place the responsibility of a strik' , on the operators of this district, an' we have been induced to make thi
 statement so that the public may b. , informed as to where the responsi 1, bility lies"
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