The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-05
PALMER URGES
PUBLIC SUPPORT
Cost of Living at Peak Now But
Surrender Means Three Years
More.

Washington, Dec. Attorney
General Palmer called upon the
American people tonight to refuse
to be stampeded by threats OF lack
of coal into concessions which VII
Ainsure unreasonably high prices IN all
commodities for at least three years
10 come.
The governments attitude was
made clear by the attorney general
n reply to the chamber OF com
nerce at Mo5erly, Mo-, from which
thad come a request that another con-
ference be called. MIR. Palmer
opposed further conferences. saying
wage increase proposed by Dr.. Gar
field eoualized the average miners
wages with the present high cost of
living without increasing the price
of coal. This, he said, was tar TO
; the miners and protected the puoiic
aThe cost of living is now at the
high point" Mr.. Palmer said. 10
grant the demands of the miners
would make the cost Of living still
higher. The new wage conference
would run three winters and, there
fore. would maintain higher cost
of living for substantially three
wears. Such a situation can not be
tolerated. -. c.eo,d
sIn addition to this, DR.. GARFIELD
s,;oeested a consultative body to in
vestigate more completely the wnole
situation, to be composed OF repre-
sentatives in equal number OF tne
miners and operators and TO De pre-
sided over by the secretary OF the IN
terior. Such a body would lnvestl-
cate among other things, the prohts
of The operators. If these should De
found to be unreasonably high, the
nubIic should receive the benefit IN
decrease in the price of coal, a1ter
fbe miners have had their wages
f;na1lv adjusted on fair basis. l
understand this plan is acceptable 70
tha onerators. If the miners return
a,work and agree to this plan way
would be Immediately open ioi
permanent settlement. ~
ssIn the mean time, however 1iis
operators have posted the advance IN
1 WAGES, W proposed by Dr.. Garfield, so
that working miners will Immediately
receive the benefit of this increase.
The production Of coal now closely
yannroximates so per cent or Norman IA"
and ! have confidence thai soid-
Gent number of miners Will comply
with the wishes of their government
and respond to the needs OF the peo-
ME to Increase this production IN the
near future to, point which VIII sup
/, NV the demand if economic and con-
seyyation in industry are employea.
Another plan to reopen nego1la-
tions for new wage scale DeTgeSn Il
the miners and operators Wouia, oe
/, fntile and would delay rather tnan
advance production. AS long as the
leaders of the miners, organization
believe that their unlawful strlkee
viii force the public into a conditlon
Of suffering and loss which Will com
mel further increases OF wages con- con,
tinued conference on the subject VIII
]. on1v result IN influencing miners not
TO return to work.
- .sTba situation calls for the stead
fast support by the public OF the e
governments position as announcea
hv Or. Garfield. The public shoula !
refuse to be stampeded by threats Oh Oh
Dfack of fuel into concessions Wnlcn
will insure unreasonably high prices
in Ill commodities for at least three
wears to come.