COAL - Clpdigital.org

PATRICK McBRYDE OF THE No. 8 VEIN OF
OHIO OPERATORS MAKES SOME FORCE­
FUL OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROFES­
SIONAL COMMITTEEMAN IN LABOR
AFFAIRS.
Commissioner Patrick McBryde of the Pittsburgh
Vein of Ohio Operators organization, and
once national secretary and treasurer of the U. M.
W.. was the principal speaker at the Labor Day
celebration in Barton, O. His address was characteristic
and refreshing in its several wholesome
tacts out of the ordinary. The following excerpts
will serve to illustrate:
"In a country where the developments of its
coal fields increase at the rate of from ten to
twenty million tons per annum, and the number
of miners from twenty to forty thousand; that a
good deal of friction should take place between
the men owning the mines and their employes is
naturally to be expected, and yet, to the credit of
the miners and operators, be it said that more
intelligence has been displayed in the making of
a wage scale and in preventing labor troubles
around the mines than has been displayed by any
other trade or calling in the country. Others have
followed in their footsteps; the miner and operator
lead the procession.
"It was not always thus. It is within the memory
of many gentlemen present when it was almost a
crime to be a member of the miners' union. Your
employers in those days did not meet with your
officials, discuss and remove grievances whenever
found. The Parry theory of liberty was practiced
throughout the country. A man worked as
long as his physical ability allowed him. He was
generally well pleased if he succeeded in getting
a car more than his neighbor. If you watch
carefully, you will find this little weakness creeping
out now anu then. A more servile or docile
animal than the coal miner was hard to find.
' Here and there men were found whose souls
arose in arms against the conditions which prevailed
and these men banded themselves into an
organization to remove the evils existing in and
around the coal mines. Although buffeted by
their employers, sneered at by their fellow-workmen,
they continued the good work until they compelled
recognition. Those pioneers who tramped
the ties that you and I and all be benefited, are
now forgotten since it has become fashionable to
be a union man. There are none so poor to do
them reverence.
"There is no greater curse in existence to-day
than the professional committee man; the idle
days he has caused his fellow-miners, that he
might loot the local treasury, is something fearful
to contemplate. The strangest part is that before
it became fashionable to be a union man, the
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 35
men who now pose as professional committee men
were unheard of; they mingled amongst the great
crowd of non-unionists to which they legitimately
belong. Think you that had those men been in
authority a few years ago and followed their
present policy, the operators would have recognized
the union or granted you an eight-hour day?
Not on your life."
LEHIGH AND WILKESBARRE COAL CO.
The annual report of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre
Coal Co. shows that the amount realized from coal
sales fell off $457,756, but miscellaneous earnings
increased and the total loss was brought down to
$409,167. A favorable feature of the statement
was a decrease in total expenses of $476,253 and in
net expenses of $369,455. As a result of these
economies the loss in net earnings was only $39,-
712.
The operations of the company for the year
ended June 30 last were as follows:
1905. 1904. Decrease.
Coal sales $15,747,301 $16,205,077 $457,756
Coal mined by
tenants 485,837 497,821 11,584
Miscellaneous 83,691 23,098 *60.593
Total earnings. $16,316,829 $16,725,996 $409,167
Expenses—
Mining coal and
repairs $5,342,429 $5,760,155 $417,726
Colliery impvmts.. 877,398 923,376 45.97S
Royalty on leased
property 303,489 296,636 *6,853
Coal purchased 2,969,655 2,869,954 *99.701
Transp'tion, yards
and agencies 4,331,915 4,421,004 89,099
General expenses.. 93,620 91,022 *2,598
Taxes 244,648 245,779 1,131
Insurance 24.51S 27,977 3,459
Deple'n cl'd lands
fund 226,563 254,585 28,022
Total $14,414,23o $14,890,488 $476,253
Less value coal
stock 261,037 367,835 106,798
Net expenses..$14,153,198 $14,522,653 $369,455
Net earnings.. $2,163,631 $2,203,343 $o9,712
Interest 1,538,311 1.569,o30 31,219
Surplus $625,320 $633,813 $8,493
* Increase.