The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
COAL CONSUMERS UNION
URGED AS THE SOLUTION
OF BIG LABOR QUESTION
Interested Users of the Commodity
Are Advised by Rockport
Man to Organize.
WOULD ORGANIZE USERS
Belief Expressed that They Are Ig-
nored in Arguments Between
Laborers and Employers.

"a coal consumers union" to represent
the public in the annual fights of the oper-
ators and miners the confiscation of the
mines and their operation by federal or
state authorities in the event of failure
of their owners to operate them. by reason
of strike, and continual state and national
control of coal mines-these are some of
the radical things suggested in letter ad-
dressed to the coal consumers of Indiana
by A. H. Kennedy, secretary and treasurer
of the Rockport Ond) Water Works Com
pany. The letter is called forth by the pres
ent tense situation in the controversy over
wages between operators and miners.
Mr. Kennedy's letter follows:
In the matter of the impending coal min
ers' strike i believe something strenuous
should be done. / beg to offer my advice,
being one of the numerous consumers oper-
ating municipal utility enterprises that
must be kept in operation at all costs. We
have a hundred times as much capital in
vested in the use of coal as both the Oper-
ators and miners, and ii necessarily be-
comes public calamity to have the supply
cut on without any consideration or the
vast losses and discomforts caused thereby.
u. miner and operator, in going into the
business of supplying coal to the general
public, assume a moral contract with the
public TO keep its various wants supplied
with coal. Coal mining companies are char
tered by the State to supply public ne
cessity-any lack or uncertainty in the sup
ply results in losses beyond our comprehen-
sion. All such companies, by charter and
their vital connection with the public, are
children of the state.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
so. All coal companies situated on rail-
roads are in a vital manner related to in
terstate-commerce business. This coal is,
in large measure, transported to other
States and their coal used in the locomo-
tive becomes a necessity in the conduct of
interstate transportation--the carrying of
passengers, freight and the mails. in this
vital relation all such coal mining corpora
tions and coal miners unions become chill
dren of the United States government.
3. In view of the above relations that
the operators and tfe miners sustain TO
both the State and Nation-they are amen
able 10 the public veal. The public must
have coal at all hazards. Hence, If the
miners and operators cannot supply it on
account of their differences, or for any 9TH
er reason-a receivership is the only rem
edy.
~ If interstate commerce is interrupted
by a lack of coal, caused by a strike and
a shutdown, the United States courts
should put all such companies that supply
coal for interstate business into the hands
of receiver and operate the mines. If.
again. the closing of mines bv strike or
otherwise causes the closing down of the
various lnuuStIleS OF the STATE lneFeDg en-
failing a great calamity, the state courts
should step in and put such mines in the
hands of receiver and operate them.
%. If the union men VIII not work, let
them stand aside and permit nonunion men
ITO work the mines. This is the only solu-
ton of the problem. after all. and it might
as well be settled now as at any other time.
The public veal is paramount.
COAL CONSUMERS UNION.
&c. l believe that there should be a coal
consumers union organized 10 take care Of
their side of the question. 1t seems that
they are constantly ignored at every meet
ing of the operators and miners. They
should organize so as TO make themselves
felt at these annual fights of the operator
and miners and in effective legislation. Such
a union would have a large and wholesome
influence in the settlement of these troubles
for there are many hundred consumers
for every miner and operator. They Will
not suffer such heartiess tyranny much
longer. Another strike like the anthracite
strike viii lead to the putting OF all mines
under state and national control The pub
lie is paramount and will override all oppo-
sition. The public must have coal. and will
have il at ali hazards-even to the confisca-
tiOn of the mines and operating them
under state control
Il believe that there is a widespread
sentiment in favor Of state and national
control. II the operators and miners real
lied the real situation and what confronts
without delay. To make such a showing let
all consumers who agree wholly or par
TALLY with the above sentiments address
me a card or letter. and | will announce,
in a future issue OF this paper, the result
a prompt response is desired"