March averages 20 men with highest gross earnings, $231.21, cash drawn.... No monthly men included in the above figures. $169.97 120.90 102. 39 131. 09 I was very much amused by Mr. Lewis' lecture upon the great inefficiency of the coal operators. I have seen by the newspapers that this is a favorite theme of his. It certainly takes a courageous man to make such statements when we consider his efficiency while in full charge of the United Mine Workers of America. We all remember the Jacksonville wage agreement and Mr. Lewis' slogan: "No backward step in wages." As I remember, this agreement called for a wage of $7.50 per day. Shortly after the agreement was made the business of the country became depressed, and, ignoring all economic laws, Mr. Lewis held steadfast to his business policy until the name of the United Mine Workers of America was little more than a name. Then came the "new deal" and into the lap of this business failure was tossed the dictatorship of practically all miners in the union, whereupon he feels himself competent to tell the operators of the United States how to run their mines and the administration how to run the Government of a once free people. Since he has preached efficiency to us, I feel free to offer a little advice to him, as follows: In any business, and conducting the affairs of the great and mighty United Mine Workers of America is a business, it is never wise to spend money taken from the poor miners of whom Mr. Lewis was so solicitous, and spend it like drunken sailors. Our miners paid into this organization for the month of March $1,001.50, and from what I have seen and heard of suites of rooms held in some of the most expensive hotels in the city of Washington, I estimate that our men worked a full month of 22 days to maintain in Washington the officials of the benevolent organization just about 2 hours. This becomes irritating when we hear of the paid organizers of this charitable organization telling our miners how the nonunion miners are oppressed. C. H. MEAD, WINDING GULF OPERATORS ASSOCIATION, President, C. H. Mead Coal Co., Beckley, W. Va. DEAR SIR: Confirming our conversation today, the following figures are taken from the last form-C sheets that were compiled and cover the last pay periods of September, October, and November 1934, and are the earnings per start. Assistant Secretary, Winding Gulf Operators Association. (Whereupon, at 5:35 p. m., the subcommittee adjourned sine die.) |