Denver labor bulletin., 1915-10-09
ASK CONGRESS TO
STOP COAL WASTE
Union Miners and Operators
Concentrate Efforts
Ask Relief From Destructive Interpre-
tations Of Trust Law That Permit Cor
porations to Throttle Industry
(By K. c. ADAMS.)

The Sherman anti-tru law. the Nf,-
tor of many battles in which the adyo-
/ Gates of business freedom have en-
deavored to concentrate their forces in
attack, will, if plans do not fail, b. the
object OF assault for the first time since
its passage in 1890, of combined force
OF employers and employees, united in
action, seeking one relief, when the next
congress meets
For the past fifteen years bijuminous
coal operators OF the competitive states
have lodged complaint after complaint
against the operation of the measure.
characterizme the law as rurpous and
prohibiting the very basic organization
necessary to govern the sa,er channels
of soft coal production. From time 10
time attempts have been made to have
an Interpretation placed on the measure
that would permit the industry to re-
gain the stability enjoyed prior TO its
rigid enforcement. But every effort in
this direction met with failure.
Gobbiing Up Coal Mines.
The workers in the mines. as in other
industries. having been led to believe by
designing politicians, that the measure
would be the greatest beneficiary law
ever enacted, Were slow to understand
its operation and the wreekagc that was
tions that We're being given its provi-
ions by the courts and conmi--ions.
They wondered how it was that hereto.
fore prosperous companies could only
operate half time and even under half
time operations could no; find a profit
able market for their product. iHrc-ti-
CATIONS revealed that the big trtnspor-
tatiou companies were gohbliug up Old
mines developing new fields and making
for such properties new ami lower
freight rates which would enable them
to control the market price Q.- orrtRin
grades OF coal at viii The tniuer- he-
came intensely interested in studying
condition but took no action They
sought Ia diagnose the disease bei"r"
they attempted to apply thu remedy
So after several years Of careful iuVe.-
tigation representative OF the miner-
gathered in wage conference NJ Ciev~.
land. Ohio. decided that some method ni
regulation must necessarily b. permitted
or otherwise the bifuminous coal indus
try in it- present submissive state to
fake regulation" would bankrupt the
independents who ehanced their capital.
retard development aud bring TO fi,-
mine worker enforced idleness and uncer-
tainfic- Of employment. The miners
vert .tili further in considering the mat
tcrs they instructed their international
executive board to cooperate. using all
honorable means. with the coal operators
in effecting a rc-adiustment by Law.
such would restore the stability af
the bituminou. industry.
Stop Cut Throat Methods \
The international executive board
meeting at indianapolis. has just author
izcd President White, Vice President
Hays and Secretary Green. as a commit
tee to meet the representatives Of the
coal operators and outline some plan
whereby the industry can shake for all
time to come the ''cut throat methods
that have prevailed during the past fi,
teen years. The operators. representing
they do the worst organized of Amer
lean Industries. will within the next
week select like committee to meet
the representatives Of the miners to for
mulate plans TO secure the long sought
relief
Altbo no intimation has been given of
the relief plan. both miners aud opera.
tors will be prepared to prove to the
satisfaction of all ''doubter-' that inter
prctations of the sherman iaw" have
enlarged the waste incident to coal min
ing in the soft coal regions twoiold and
the danger TO human life 10 an appalling
state.
In many states the bottom seams of
high quality coal Is being left untouched
TO become waste forever simply because
prohibition OF trade agreements will not
permit its being mined at n profit.
Try m prinrine do Iaea rigar for M,