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30 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
Mitchell made a strong plea to those miners who
were not in the ranks to join immediately as they
could not expect to win unless they presented a
solid front. He looked forward to gaining the
eight-hour day. the weighing of coal and recog
nition of the union, but these demands would not
he conceded unless they were stronger in member­
ship.
"At no time within the past thirty years," he
said, "have the wage earnings of the miners been
as fair as they are now. It is true that some
are earning lower wages now than they had then.
but the average wage is much higher. But when
I say that the wages are high. I do not mean
by any means that I am satisfied, or that I want
you to be satisfied. If you were to get an in­
crease of 20 per cent, in your wage earnings tomorrow
I would still be asking for more. I be­
lieve that a high-paid workingman is better than
a low-paid workingman; a union workingman is
better off than a non-union man.
"Some fellows say what's the use of talking of
what took place five years ago or thirty years
ago? I think it is well to remember: Five years
ago you could not have met here. You would not
have dared to do it for there would have been
no work for your leaders the next day. Five
years ago you were getting 27 per cent, less in
wages than what you are getting at the present
time.
"In addition to this, you secured a decrease in
the price of powder, and practical abolishment of
the company store. Along with these and many
other improved conditions, the mine workers had
secured a positive recognition of the union,
through the conciliation board which guaranteed
a fair consideration of the grievances of the mine
workers.
"The recognition of the union is not all that I
could wish for. I would like such a recognition
as we receive in the bituminous regions, but it
is better than you have ever had before.
"The paramount question is the future. What
are you going to do next spring? Are you satis­
fied now? Do you think the operators are satisfied?
I believe they are not. Wages are not
stationary. They will either go up or down and
it is your choice to either have them raised or
lowered. If they are lowered it won't be our
fault; it will be yours. It will be due to the
neglect and carelessness of the men who did not
go to the trouble of paying their dues. Every
man should pay his dues. The companies would
prefer to pay lower wages and give you longer
hours and they could get along without your check
docking bosses who have decreased docking about
11 per cent.
"If you have a strong organization there will
be no necessity for a strike to sustain fair wage
conditions. You have the evidence that if you
had a strong organization in 1902 there would
have been no necessity of a strike. If you maintain
a strong organization in 1906 there will be
no necessity of a strike at that time. Our work
is not to create industrial disorder. A strong
organization is the greatest guarantee of indus­
trial peace.
"I give you final warning now. The day of
fate is approaching us. It is very near. Every
hour counts, and if you do not look around now
and see where you are at, I am afraid it will
lie too late for you later. March 31, 1906, the
day when the anthracite award expires will soon
be here. Much sooner than we expect it. Then
what are you going to do? Where will your
eight-hour day be? How will your union be
recognized as a contracting party? How are you
sure that your wages will not be reduced as well
as they were increased when you won the strike?
Do you know, friends, that the operators dislike
the union more now than they did even before the
great strike, and whatever harm they can possibly
do to you they will do it? All this, as I have
said many times, depends upon yourself. It all
depends on the question of how strong you will
be organized when the day comes around. 1
say again, that wages are not stationary. They
will either go up or go down—and if they go
down it will be your own fault. You alone and
no one else will be to blame. I, myself, were
I an operator, would not recognize you if you
came to me in the present condition, and I won't
blame the operators if they do not recognize you
next April. Remember, organization is the only
sure proof of success."
Mitchell concluded by making a special personal
appeal to the wives of the miners to urge their
husbands to pay up their dues and attend the
local meetings if they want to better their conditions.
Low Fares to Vermillion iLinwood Park) via
Pennsylvania Lines.
August 3rd. 4th, Sth, 10th, 12th, 16th, 19th,
and 21st, excursion tickets to Vermillion, Ohio,
afcount Religious Meetings, will be sold via Pennsylvania
Lines from Pittsburgh, Rochester and
intermediate stations. For information apply to
J. K. Dillon, District Passenger Agent, 515 Park
'uilding, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Natalie Coal Co., Shamokin, Pa., recently
issued notice that its colliery, which has been idle
for over two years on account of a disagreement
as to its management, will resume operations,
work being furnished to 1,000 employes.