COAL - Clpdigital.org

Some time ago the British Columbia parliament
enacted a law forbidding the employment of Chinamen
in mining underground. The Wellington
Colliery Co.. desiring to test this law, continued
to employ Chinamen in underground work, whereupon
an agreed case was submitted to the courts,
and passed finally to the privy council in London,
England, the court of last resort. The judicial
committee of the privy council has handed down
a decision in favor of the colliery company. The
committee sustained the contention of the company
that it could send its employes to any portion
of its property. Similar acts, relating to
loth Chinese and Japanese, have previously been
disallowed by the Dominion government, and in
one case Downing street decided against a law
very similar to the one just acted upon.
» * •
On August 26 the mines of the Tennessee Consolidated
Coal Co.. at Tracey City, Tenn., were
opened with non-union labor, after being idle since
last July. Unknown persons fired from ambush.
killing Mine Foreman J. B. Rust and Miner Dick
Henley, and seriously wounding Helper John Mc-
Govern. The company offered a reward of $1,000
for the arrest and conviction of the murderers and
$2,000 more is promised by citizens and the governor.
An appeal for protection was made to
Governor Cox, who sent seven companies of militia
to the scene of the trouble.
* * *
John Mitchell, in a speech at Manila park, near
Tamaqua. Pa., on August 27, reiterated the declaration
that his organization would, at the expiration
of the present wage agreement in April next,
demand recognition of the union and an eighthour
day. President Mitchell said that he hoped
by that time he would be able to go before George
F. Baer. president of the Philadelphia & Reading
Railway Co., and, pointing to 150,000 men and
boys employed in and about the mines, say: "We
have fixed the price for our labor. You can take
it or leave it."
* * *
About 125 miners employed by the Falls Creek
Mining Co., at Dubois, Pa., went on strike on
August 29 demanding an eight-hour shift, right
of a check weighman on the tipple and the recognition
of the union. The men are unorganized.
but at their request an official of the United Mine
Workers went there. A small-sized riot occurred
before the meeting, and rocks were thrown freely.
The majority of the men were taken into the
union and they say they will tie up the mines
unless their demands are granted.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 41
Arrangements were completed recently for John
Mitchell to visit fourteen points in the Schuylkill
district during September. The itinerary will be
as follows: September 9, New Philadelphia; 11.
Ashland; 12, Girardville; 13, Mahanoy City; 14,
Shenandoah; 15, St. Clair; 16, Shamokin; 18, Pine
Grove; 19, Tremont; 20, Lykens; 21. Williamstown;
22, Tower City; 25, Minersville; 26. Heckscherville.
At a recent meeting at the Hotel Lincoln, Pittsburgh,
attended by James E. Roderick, chief of the
bureau of mines in Pennsylvania, and a number
of inspectors of the western districts of the state,
the undercutting of coal in the bituminous region
was discussed at considerable length and the inspectors
were instructed as to the proper interpretation
of the state law.
* • «
During 1904 £2,766 was recovered by the Dock.
Wharf, Riverside and General Workers' Union of
Great Britain and Ireland, as compensation for
members who have been injured while at work.
Since the inception of the union the large sum of
£24,000 has been secured for injured members.
* * •
On Sunday next 7,000 Presbyterian ministers
throughout the United States will preach to the
working classes on some phase of the labor question.
This is in accordance with a plan outlined
by the department of church and labor, recently
organized in the Presbyterian church.
* * *
A committee representing Mine Workers' Local
1370, Morris Run. Pa., is in the anthracite region
for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions from
the anthracite locals to aid them in their fight
against the coal operators at Morris Run.
* * *
The West Australian miners' unions have refused
to accept a reduction in wages and other
alterations in their conditions, as proposed by
the mining companies, and the matter will be
thrashed out in the arbitration court.
* * *
John Boyle, former president of the Indiana
mine workers' organization, has been appointed a
national organizer by President Mitchell and has
been ordered to West Virginia.
* * *
Intense dissatisfaction exists among New South
Wales trade unionists and fair employers, owing
to the government allowing the arbitration court
business to be hung up.
* * *
Trade unionism among the Jewish workers in
Great Britain is beginning to have a revival.