The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-10

 IS CHARGED BY
 HEAD OF MINERS
Railroad Administrations Policy Attacked in Long Telegram From Act
 ing President
By Assooiated Press

Indianapolis. Ind. May 9.-In lengthy telegram from John L. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Worktw of America, to Walker D. Hines, drec- tor general of railroads. made public here tonight. the railroad administration is charged with showing discrimination in it's purchase of railroad coal in the face of it's announced policy of equal dis tribution. The telegram declares that the question is of vital importance to the miners, affecting their daily life, and that there is a question of human .eQua- ton and human values involved which
 in all sincerity, l warn you, cannot be disregarded"
 The telegram states that headquarters of the mine workers has been authorita- lively advised that in Ohio the Columbus X Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania lines west has allotted all contracts for locomotive fuel for II months to two pro ducing compan nies in district No. of Ohio, whereas this business heretofore has been shared by 2i companies. It de- clares further that authoritative advces are to the effect that the Pierre Mar quette has arranged to secure 50o,o0o tons ot coal from West Virginia heretofore furnished by Ohio operators, and that l 300 900 tons annual production furnisHed for a period of several years by the Po- 1 tcmac coal field in Maryland is now se- cured elsewhere.
 Continuing, Mfr Lewis in the telegram says:
 Tt is startlngly apparent that these acts of the railroad administration do | in no wise conform to the conception l | have of your policy concerning distribu- | ton of contracts and frankly confess I am at loss to comprehend the vari- ancc between words and actions.
 A VITAL QUESTION | "The United Mine Workers have dili gently sought to impress that this ques- I ton was one of vital importance to oui
 people and affected their daily life as l individuals to the degree of determining whether they shall live in comparative comfort or poverty. There is question
 of human equation and human values | involved which in all sincerity 1 warn you cannot be disregarded
 There is not nor can there be any moral justification for the pursuit by an Iagency of our government of policy
 which unuualfiedly disregards the in- herent right of such large number of our citizenship as is affected by these stances and those previously cited you. The United Mine Workers have in every
 honorable way by application of reason
 and logic sought to obtain the appica-
 tion of a practical common sense busi-
 mess policy by the railroad adminstra- l
 of all clements in the coal industry and
 the public From your attitude express
 ed in personal conferences l have hail
 reason to assume you were impressed, al
 least to some degree, by our representa- 1 tions. and I stand aghast at the temer ity which leads you to so flagrantlS disregard the rules of eduity which shoulo obtain affecting the interests involved
 May I be honored by an immediate re- ply from you concerning these matters 2
 The telegram is dated May s. Thus far
 mine workers officials said tonight, n,
 reply had been received from Director General Hines,