The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-03-26


in oklahoma since 1902:
@syso @sy p'Ss.o' i,s,s
1909 ........,,...s f22t 90
1905 .t.ttstss., 'hh w
lNnf 1908 .ttIttftt =. .,a
190G-190s .,..,..,.. 200 .t3
l9os.i 1919 '''.''..' s9n
lhln.lNli .tss.'f.st E.lN 20
lul. .lplN 's's'.f's' ~ -
l9li-lhle '''''.'''' aal
tolG-l9iI .-s.,s.,... 29H ~
MAY, lHly...,.t.,., a.hb ~
Nov. lgl7,.,,..,,. BOO lol
Doc. lpl1rt.ts', b.tp lls
Apr lBsp't 'tsfs'''t. y w ifse
Aub' lHaUstfHtftHfs i"V l.s'
From the above. Il will be soon
that as the result OF organization, the
coat miners OF this ana other states
were receiving relatively hlRh wages
before the war. and that they Kept
fully abreast OF the times ana sub
s,antinlly bcttcrcd their economic
position during the war, and that In
addition, they have obtained since
tho war. three additional advances
OF Unprecedented proportions, which,
by virtue Of the expiration date fixed
hy the government wage commission,
they are stlll holding long after
wages I'm nearly every other liuo Of
business have substantially declined
and long after tho cost OF living has
greatly declined from the peak fig
ures reached In the postwar period,
II should he clearly understood by
those who have complained at the
continued high price OF coal during
the past year that by the strike OF
November /, 1919, which was no
timed as 10 completely shut down
tho mines at the beginning OF the
3 winter season, the minora union
forced tho appointment by President
Wilson of the bituminous coal COM
mission. which commission made u
wage award effective April l, 1890,
which gave the miners unprece-
dcntod high wages ana bound tho
operators 20 continue ana respect
these wages until March 81. 1923,
OkIahomans IN Good Faith.
The operators OF oklahoma havs
IN good faith lived up TO and respect
I'd this contract, which IL now eX-
piring.
Under the terms OF this contract,
the operators were Obliged to meet
tho representatives OF the United
Mine Workers OF America prior To
March |. The representative of
oklahoma operators did meet the
representatives. OF the United Mine
Workers OF America on February
81, 1929. This meeting was, by mu-.
tual agreement, adjourned to recon.
Neno at Kansas city ON March Q,
ifaas AfH h0lNil " Ant lfili hNfIlNN@
tiycs OF operators and miners again
came together. At this meeting. thc
representatives of the miners au-
Vised the representatives Of tho op-
orators that they were not author.
ised to begin wage negotiations. and
moved that tho conference adjourn
sine die.
Thorcupon, the Representatives of
tho operators wired Mr. John l.,
u. IF.,Nf
Workers at Indianapolis, Ind. to the
effect that the operators OF the five
southwestern states, including Okla
homa, Arkansas, Missouri. Kansas
aud Iowa, were ready to begin ne
gotiationH. and requesting that he
authorize his local southwestern rep
roscntatives To enter upuu ncgotia-
tions. 20 the end that n suspension
of mining operations on April l.,
mlght he Averted. In reply to this
tclCsram, I, Rs president OF the okla
Iona Coal Operators association, rec
Ceiyed from Mr., Lewis. the following
letter;
Il herewith reply to your Joint
telegram OF the 9TH inst, requesting
this office to issue instruction to the
representatives of districts ~, ~, ~
and 90. United Mine Workers TO
enter into negotiations with the
AihllN~ vi AlNNANtAilHl = Nil An1N' ltAA lNlAs
The representatives of tho Unit
cd Mine Workers Of America who
attended the Joint meeting In knutas
city OF the 9TH Inst, authoritatiNely
presented you the attitude of oar
organization upon this question. This
office, therefore. is not disposed to
take any action in the premises.
VERY truly yours,
JOHN l.. LEWIS,
President"
From the above, Il win be clearly
seen that the coal operators OF ok
lahoma have In good faith lived up
to the letter of their every agreement
with the United Mine Workers of
America, and that they have earn.
CstlN sought To bring about set
tlcmCut OF existing wage differences
iu time to prevent n suspension of
mining operations on April l., hut the
CNCuutlHo officers OF the United
Mine Workers OF America are APP
purvntly, as heretofore, unwilling to
cnter upon negotiations in the south
west until they have worked out
basic scale In what ls known us tho
central competitive field. comprising
tho states OF Illinois, Indiana. ohio
and western Pennsylvania.
The Strike Move.
on February IA, l023. A conyCn-
tion OF some 1900 union delegates
assembled at Indianapolis and not
only voted against the acceptance OF
any reductions Ia existing war
wages. but instructed their rouro-
sentatives that n strike or suspen-
sion OF work Mt all union mines
should be effective April /, " the on
orators refused to grant their de-
mands. which were as follows:
I. The present wage scale on day
work. monthly men, tonnage and
dead work
3. All inequalities on dilfereutials
Nardage and dead work TO be taker
4 up for local adjustment,
3. A six-hour day and a five-da.
week.
WnA