The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-11
Article /.

An organized movement is now be-
ing conducted by the coal operators
and organizations that favor the
open shop" drive, to frame the minds
Of the workers to accept reduction
in wages so that the four competitive
districts, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and,
Western Pennsylvania may be able
to compete against the non-union dis
tricts south of the Ohio river, who
they claim on account of wage
scale that is considerably lower than
our wage scale, are able to take the
markets that formerly belong to the
four competitive states.
The Illinois operators, associations
Of commerce, ETC., seem confined to
having the miners of Illinois accept
a wage reduction and similar moves
have been made in other states, but
the mine workers are standing firm,
knowing that a reduced wage scale is
not the remedy and will only put them
in a much worse plight than they now
are in, as a reduced wage scale would
AOI AnOA OdbC SAC dLlOuuJ VI COdl uSCu,
nor would it prevent those who are
working in the non-union districts
(who have not the benefit of q union
to protect them) from accepting fur
Their reduction in the wages they are
now receiving, so in the end Of such
an experiment the mine workers
would be face-to-face with the same
problem that they now have.
Wages and Coal Prices
The scale of wages paid to the mine
workers in the state Of Illinois is not
responsible for the sub-normal de-
mand for coal, neither can the sub
normal demand for Illinois coal be
laid to the door of competing dist
tricts," to the contrary, the govern
ment in a report issued on January
10th, 1925, explains the reasons for
sub-normal demand for Illinois coal
and the reasons we believe are logical
and food for thought for all mine
workers.
However, before going into the
reasons given by the government for
sub-normal demand for Illinois coal,
we wish to clear your minds of the
operators nightmare" called "cheap
Kentucky coal that is taking our mar
kets away from u.s." Many Of you we
know, believe that the reason you are
not employed is due to cheap Ken
lucky coal' that is flooding Illinois,
this however is not altogether the
case.
"cheap Kentucky Coal"
For your benefit we have made
partial survey of certain points with
in and near to Illinois in regards to
non-union competition and the letters
we have received from these points
speak for themselves and cannot be
disputed. We have written to the
other side for this information, the
letters all being Of similar nature,
asking for practically the same in
formation, and addressed to the sec
retaries of the various chambers of
commerce, therefore we shall quote
the letter to these secretaries and
their replies thereto, which we ask
that you carefully read and study:
Springfield, Illinois,
October 80, 1924.
Chamber Of Commerce,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Dear Sirs:
note in the Chicago Journal of
Commerce where considerable East
ern Kentucky coal is being used in
Cedar Rapids. l am after information
concerning this matter. Will you fur
nish me with figures of what 1t costs
to buy coal in Eastern Kentucky and
also the freight rates per ton from
there TO Cedar Rapids, also the figures
on Central Illinois coal?
am enclosing clipping of the Chi.
cago Coal Market which will give you
an idea OF what l am trying TO find
out in regards to the Cedar Rapids
market. You will note that the freight
rate from Eastern Kentucky to Chi
cago is Sale and coal, Lump S2.75,
total per ton $491. Central Illinois
freight rate is S1.65, coal s2.75, total
S4.40.
Any other information as to why
Kentucky coal is sold in your vicinity
will be appreciated. am, very truly
yours,
JOHN J. WATT, Secy-Treas.
Here Is the Reply Addressed to
Secretary Watt.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
November II, 1924.
Dear Sir:--
Sometime ago you requested us to
TO furnish information and figures on
the cost in Cedar Rapids OF Eastern
Kentucky and Illinois Contrai coal