Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-05
John l.. Scores His S|ickest Victory

settlement. but his early negoti-
atoms helped attain the final
payoff. In his talks with Mr..
Moses, the miners chief was very
careful, as usual, not to show his
hand by revealing his real wage
and other demands. He said
only that he would be reason
able, and asked Mr.. Moses to
make him an offer. Finally. Mr..
Moses, perhaps under some pres
sure from his steel clients (al-
though he denies it,, offered a
reported $1.60 a day in wages
and cents per ton on the
miners welfare fund, into which
the operators already paid 80
cents a ton. Mr.. Moses critics
say the opening bid was too
highland that 1t was here he
made his big mistake. Mr.. Lewis
began trading. He said he was
a reasonable man, but not that
reasonable. He thought, for ex-
ample, the miners work-day
should be seven hours. instead Of
eight. He was firm. Mr.. Moses
then. repeatedly, countered with
an offer of $1.80 a day in
wages. 10 cents on welfare and
Is minutes of the work day.
Mr.. Lewis said it seemed about
right. But the commercial coal
interests among the directors Of
the Moses association said fatty.
mo-"
Divide and Conquer
So the negotiations broke
down for the time being and
Mr.. Lewis turned to divide and
conquer" tactics in earnest. 1t
was just a few days before the
contract with the Moses group
was to expire-September 20.
He announced that the mines
west of Ohio which were not in
the Moses association would be
allowed to operate after the
deadline. The others, he i'm
piled, would be struck. Then,
of course, the Southern mines
would continue operations for
about 10 days, since their con-
tract was not up until october ].
A few big operators in Illinois
and Indiana did not belong to
the Moses association. And Mr..
Lewis let it be known that If
any other operators wished to
break away from the group.
their mines would be allowed to
operate provided they, too.
agreed to accept whatever were
the final settlement terms. The
Illinois and Indiana operators
accepted.
At this juncture. Mr.. Moses
still was holding most of his
forces together. But a large
part of them were the steel COM
panies who were never too anx-
ious to make a fight of it. The
pressure was really on the
loyal" commercial interests of
Mr.. Moses. They were faced
with a strike, while at least half
of the industry was operating.
1t was then Mr.. Moses made his
final call on Mr.. Lewis. In the
final arrangement, the IS min
utes less work time per day was
snapped for 10 cents per hour
in wages, and Mr.. Lewis had his
$1.90 a day increase in wages.
plus the 10 cents on welfare.
The settlement was announced a
few hours before the strike
deadline.
Sitting Ducks
This turn Of events left the
Southern operators of Mr..
Moody posed like sitting ducks
before the Lewis guns. They
made weak attempt to fight.
but finally capitulated last
Tuesday, a few hours before
their mines were to be closed.
That's why Mr.. Lewis will be
even more Of hero than ever
when his miners gather in con-
vention this week in Cincinnati.
The miners now will make
$18.25 a day. Their hourly
rates have increased 1872 per
cent since 1899. In the same
period, the cost of living has
climed IS per cent. Actually.
however, the miners have not
Jared so we'll in earnings-what
they bring home in pay each
week. These have risen 1872
per cent since 1889. That's be-
cause the average miner, due to
severe competition from other
fuels, doesn't get as much work
as he used to.