Evening star., 1918-04-14
United Workers Urge Garfield
to Prevent Recurrence
of 1878 Crisis.
EIGHT STATES MINES
WORK ON HALF TIME
Men Pledge Cooperation to Break
All Records if Facilities
Are Given.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, April 13.-De-
claring that the present coal production
in the United States is far below the
nations lowest possible estimated re-
the international executive
board Of the United Mine Workers Of
America, in a telegram to Federal Fuel
Administrator Garfield, urged tho i'm
mediate stabilization of prices and dis
tributing agencies to prevent recur-
renee of the crisis of 1917.
The telegram declares that mines in the
states of Iowa, Oklahoma, Missouri,
Colorado, Wyoming. Montana
and West Virginia are working less than
half time and that in many mining towns
large producing mines are actually shut
down. Miners are leaving the mines in
Industrial centers where the car short
age shows no signs of improvement, the
committee states, and adds:
If this exodus of miners to other lines
of employment is permitted to continue
full car supply and most satisfactory
distributing facilities provided later will
be destined to failure"
Renew Cooperation Pledge.
The committee reiterates its pledge Of
full cooperation to all agencies of the
government to the end that the maxi
mum coal production may result and rec
ognizes that the fuel administration has
full and complete authority to regulate
the coal industry in every way. The tele-
gram asserts that the miners Of the
country stand ready to dig all the coal
that could possibly be used by the ma
tion and that they are "able and eager
to break all records in coal production
and distribution If given the necessary
facilities and cooperation"
Continuing. the telegram to the fuel
administration states:
THE best evidence of this fact is the
record production of 1917. under the
most trying circumstances. The inter-
national. district and local organiza-
tions have subscribed for approximate
ly s2.0o0.o0o of the three liberty bond
issues. We want to help with all our
force in the present crisiS-not hinder.
But we feel that the outlook for an
adequate coal supply is of such grave
concern that we must. for the protec-
ton of the mine workers and as pub
lie duty, call your attention to what
we are constrained to believe is mem
ace to the hope of providing sufficient
coal.
Prices Changed Daily.
almost every day coal prices are
changed in the whole or part of some
state. Distributing agencies are an
nulled as they exist, or restricted or so
completely changed to upset every
stable calculation. Whenever prices are
lowered in any state the operators az
fected Immediately ask for hearing.
This invariably results in decreased
until the operators appeals
are definitely determined. When prices
are raised the coal miner naturally
feels that he should receive propor-
tionate amount of such increase.
This condition has created an unrest
that nothing short of stable, per-
manent price arrangement can satisfy.
We are inclined to believe that the
of prices for production and
every agency of distribution will have |.
to be brought about before the coal in
dustry can reach that degree of eff
cheney necessary to supply the needs Of
the times.
Feel Lack of Consideration.
''The coal miners feel that they have
not had that degree of consideration
in adjusting the affairs of the indus
try and the PRONUNCIATION of policies
that rightfully is theirs. Therefore, we
feel 1t our duty to ask of the fuel ad-
that a greater degree of
be given the half million
Of our members through the organiza-
tion's representatives in order to pro-
mote the most efficient and effective
co cooperation.
The message is signed by Frank J.
Hayes. president: John L. Lewis. vice
president, and William Green, secre-
tary, of the United Mine Workers Of
America.
Illinois Mines Slowed Down.
CHICAGO, April 13.-Illinois coal mines
are working at only 40 per cent of their
capacity. according to statements tonight
BY member of the Illinois Mine Op-
Association, who declared that
his was due to shortage Of trans
Dortation, mainly
E. c. Searle. president of the associa.
ion said that all the falling off in pro-