The daily worker., 1930-03-05
Under the Heel of Naturalization
in the Mines

ators, for their own use. We have only to 60
into the largest coal producing counties in the
state of Illinois, where the check-off is used,
compelling the miners to trade in company
stores. Down in Saline County, Illinois, the
writer has talked to miners who have not
drawn any of their wages in six years. Here
the coal company is not satisfied with the
profits derived from the intense speed-up in
the mines, but it exacts the last penny by
issuing what is known to the miners as
"scrips" or "stickers," for either of which the
coal corporation charges II 1-10 per cent on
each dollar. Of this amount ITO per cent
goes to the clerk for clerical work, the CON-
pany taking the 10 per cent
1t is asked how do miners get in the clutches
of this octopus and the answer is a simple
one. In the season when the miners are not
working, which is the summer, the company
stores give no credit But three weeks prior
to the opening of the mines, in the busy sea-
son, the miners wife is told by the manager
of the company store that they may have
credit This credit extended stops the miner
from having any pay to draw. They do not
use U. S. money, but company money. He can
not obtain credit any other place, so he draws
sticker or scrip for his wages, for which he
pays the exorbitant interest mentioned above
This II 1-10 per cent is not for the use of the
two three days, and never to exceed two
weeks.
Penalties and Docking Clause.
Here is another method used by the UNIV
of and the coal operators to hold and COM
pei the miners to submit to any and all con-
ditions they wish to impose. The penalty
clause, placed on the miners during the war
of 1914 is used now, not as war measure
but to stop the miners from fighting to i'm
prove and retain their working conditions.
Penalties are used as a club to stop the miners
from striking to retain their working condi-
tions. The docking clause, which can only be
enforced through the use of the check-off, is
also used to discriminate against the militant
fighter for conditions in the mines. Miners
in many instances have been framed up and
discharged on what is termed an aggravated
case of loading impurities. In Franklin Coun-
ty miners have had taken from their earn
ings as much as $12 in a period of two weeks.
Unemployment
~ Today, when many hundreds of miners are
working overtime Sundays tens of thousands
of miners unemployed. Abolition of all
overtime. rest period for the men on con
veyors, fight for the six hour day and five
day week. are the main demands of the min
ers. Every miner who is unemployed must
recognize the Importance of organization of
the unemployed miners, fighting shoulder to
shoulder, with the employed miner, for social
insurance for unemployed paid by city, county,
state and coal operators, and administered by
the miners.
Bug Light.
Here is another real grievance which miners
complain of and which can and must be abol-
ished The reason for bug lights in mine is
the lack of the proper ventilation of the
mines. Proper ventilation costs the coal oper-
ators money and causes loss of profits. The
miner, who is always made to pay, does not
escape here The operator charges the miner
for the use of the bug light. The miner who
uses this bug light, which weighs 5 lbs. for
ten hours, not only finds it burden, but also
finds himself burned from the acid which