The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-15

slash wages and drive the miners
to greater degradation. Such a pol
icy is in full accord with the acti-
vities of Lewis. Since the abandon
ment of the Jacksonville Scale,
which spelled defeat of the Penna-
Ohio-W. Va. strike, Lewis has taken
a full dozen backward steps. Wage
cuts have been the order of the day,
a unanimous policy of the operators
and takers, with only the National
Miners Union mobilizing the miners
to resist the cuts, nationally. Lewis
and his faker agents have succeed
ed in choking wage reductions down
the threats of the miners in the
States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, and Wyoming. Hardly any
Of these agreements are alike, each
varies from the other with respect
to wage rates and working condi-
tiOns, and all expire at different
date, month and year. The anthra-
cite agreement signed in 1926, Feb,
will expire on September LIST 1880.
The anthracite operators are de-
termined to lower wages still more,
to take away conditions won thru
generations of struggle, to COM
pletely vassalize the anthracite mi
ners. The employers will be aided
by the corrupted takers to the best
of their ability. The stage is set
for a grand sweep in the anthra-
cite region.
They Grease the Skids
The skids are being creased for
this purpose. And the anthracite
miners face a tremendous struggle,
for we know the miners will resist
this plan of the employers and their
labor lackey. Booster" campaigns,
cooperative Congresses, "opera-
tor-employr dinners, Mutual well
fare committees" ETC., are becoming
"the thing" amongst takers and
bosses in the anthracite area. For
a long period of time the anthracite
operators have looked for a wage
cut, openly. Their opportunity is
now here, Lewis will help to put
it across. In the coal operators
organ, BLACK Diamond" for No
vember, observer, a pseudo anal
ysist of mining affairs gives the
program of the employers:
The Argument of observer"
Discriminatory freight rates and
high labor costs at the mines Gam
thracite) are handicaps not easily
overcome, but an earnest effort is
being made to get relief from the
present rate schedules and real CO.
operation is expected from the Min
ers Union. 1t is felt that John Lew
is, now that he has taken his initial
step in bituminous fields, will afford
real relief soon in granting i'm
proved working conditions (for bOs-
ses, not the workers. P. To- if not
an actual cut in the wage SCALE.
The Bosses Program
This is the employers program
for the anthracite miners; a wage
cut brought about with the assist
ance. of corrupt remains of the ma
chine of the U. M. w. A. The an
thracite miners. must prepare for
this onslaught on their standard of
life, and under a militant leadership
drive from their ranks these be-
trayers, and conduct a real struggle.
The remarks of observer" can
well be analysed by the anthracite
miners, AS spokesman for the en-
ployers he presents their views and
perspective. 1t would also be we'll
here to examine the soundness of
his defense of the operators.
The Huge Monopoly
The anthracite coal companies do
not suffer for "relief' because of
the wage rates, or because of "dis-
criminatory freight rates" The
argument of observer" is quite
superficial. The anthracite mono
poly is one of the greatest under
American capitalism. Seven large
anthracite companies own and con-
troll rs per cent and 80 per cent of
all anthracite mined. These same
companies own and control 80 per
cent of the unmined, virgin de-
posits, the future anthracite sup
ply. These companies are welded
into mighty organization, an oc-
topus, with undisputed control of
the entire anthracite region. The
companies rule with an iron fist.
There is great repression of civil
and other liberties. Militant lead
ers of the miners are either mys-
teriously or openly murdered, by
knife, blackjack and machine gun,
and very seldom any one is ever
punished for it.
Interlocking Directorates
These seven big companies are in
turn owned by the big railroads
plying thru the anthacite area. For
instance, the Erie R. R. is lord and
master of the infamous Pennsyl-
vania Coal Company; the Delaware
Lackawana and Western controls the
Glen Alden Coal Company (employ.
ing some $4,000 miners); Lehigf
Valley R. R. owns the big coal com.
pany of the same name; the Hud
son Coal Co., is lorded over by the
railroad magnate Lores, etc., etc
The small independent enterprises
are therefore completely at the
mercy of the big companies and thei,
companies and their masters the