The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-02
Many Bitter Struggles
Preceded Building Of One
Union in Coal Industry
By ]. LOUIS ENGDAHL

trip, addressed gathering Of members ana sympa-
hizers of the International Seamens Club in New York
City, The audience was made up of those who followed
the sea.
found that one of the big subjects of interest
whether it advisable to join the international Sea
mems Union, affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor, the Marine Transport Workers Unon the
organization of the Industrial Workers Of the World
Discussion of the qualifications good and bad, OF both
organizations of paramount interest
Similar problems confront Americas workers In prac-
tcally every industry.
This problem, however, does not exist for the coal
miners in their present struggle with the mine
1t is of their sources of strength.
The left wing raises the slogan of Organize the I'm
organized Mners" and these is question about what
organization they shall join.
The United Mine Workers Of America has jurisdiction
all miners working Gin and around the coal mines
in the United States and Canada. Only in Canada is
there minor conflict with the so-caed 'One Big
Union" Otherwise the field is clear
1t has not always been So The lessons of the past,
however, warning against secession and dual
movements call to a realization the part If all
mine workers of the full meaning of the slogan raised
by the militants of Fight for the Union!"
The bitter struggles of the mine workers were made
increasingly difficult in the early days of pioneer
ganzing activities by the appearance of rival unions in
the field.
The Knights of Labor began to form local unions
thruout the mining regions in 1877 and 1878 There
no doubt that rival unions in the locality bidding
Tor recognition of the mine owners added to the advan-
tages which the coal barons already possessed n bar
gaining for wages, hours and working conditions
In the year of the first joint conference Feb g. 1885,
between the mine owners of Pennsylvania, Ohio In
diana Illinois and West Virginia and the representatives
Of the National Federation of Miners and Nine Labor
ers organized 1885, the Knights of Labor organized
The National Trades Assembly No 135, composed of all
workers sin and about the Mines" This ACTON the
part of the Knights of Labor complicated he work Of
the joint conference.
In his "History of the United Mine WORKERS of Amer
ica Evans claims that the K of L. convection that
ganized the assembly announced that unless the knights
of Labor given representation in the Joint confer
ence they would consider themselves undr obliga-
ton to abide BY the agreement It was charged that
this threat to undercut the scale of wages to gain
recognition.
As result overtures made to gain the co-opera-
ton of the Knights of Labor in the making and enforce
of a scale. In response to specific demand for
representation in the joint conference of 1887 the Knights
Of Labor were informed that there why
they should not participate but that the extent of their
representation could be determined only by the consuta
ton of both parties For the time being however the
two organizations to follow devious and conflicting
pathways before they to the point of adjusting
their differences
The National Federation of Miners was carrying on
extensive organizing campaign In this connection
its organizers reported that the fight for supremacy be-
their organization and the Knights of Labor was
efforts largely wasted The executive board of the
National Federation sought to reach understanding
with the executive board of the National Trades AS
semby No. 1885, but found that the latter had power
to enter into agreement without the sanction of the
general meeting of the assembly The officers of the
National Federation then issued challenge the Off
of the National Trades Assembly to join in a call
for general national convention and let the represen
atves decide what should be the character of organza
ton best suited to the needs Of the miners
Altho this challenge not accepted by the officers
off hn Nnfin Trad Aeca fba 4Iof
their members preferred to have their affairs conducted
by secret organization, they agreed Nov IT, 1887
a cooperative plan for making and enforcing agree
mens The national executive boards of both organza
tons to meet before the date of the joint confer
and agree upon wage rates Each board given
equal representation in the negotiation Of wage SCALE
The organization having the greatest membership in the
various localities districts should adjust grievances
and conduct strikes In of strike it should be
supported by per capita assessment the members
of both organizations and when arbitration proceedings
jointly entered upon the expenses should be equally
divided Both organizations pledged themselves to use
every honest and fair means to induce every miner to
become member of the other They agree that
the necessity of protecting and promoting the inres
Of the craft supreme. Such an ideal agreement
however, between two rival organizations seeking to CO.
operate in the industry easier to make than
to enforce.
At this time the Knights Of Labor was the stronger
union in the important fields of Southern Illinois and
Western Pennsylvania.
When the Indiana operators came to the joint confer
in 1882 determined to fight for reduction in the
rates, it charged that they safe in taking
this stand because local leaders of the Knights of Labor
had promised that their members would mine coal for
10 cents per ton less than the SCALE This charge is
made by Evans in his history of the miners union.
BY 1888 it was becoming clear that labors whole DO
stion being weakened as result of the conflict of
interest between the Knights of Labor and the Miners