Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-25

VoS eHS Ohiy SoiiiiSht Va yohh -
Lewis, acting president of the
United Mine Workers.
When the coal situation comes be.
fore the cabinet tomorrow sharp diff
ferences of opinion between some
members is expected. Representa-
tiyes of the operators have made the
claim repeatedly that the proposal Of
Secretary Wilson for a wage ad-
vance of 81 per cent did not have the
approval of a majority of the cabi-
net, but it was admitted that Mr..
Wilson would have the support OF
some who were willing to give the
miners whatever they asked in order
to get them back to work.
Other cabinet members, it was
said, feared the effect of big wage
advance might have on the efforts of
the government to reduce the cost
of living. Granting of the miners
request would strengthen the de-
mands of railroad employees and
other workers for more pay and in
many ways disturb the industrial
situation, according to one view.
A report circulated among the
operators and discussed by them at
a meeting after the withdrawal of
DR.. Garfield and the miners that Mr..
Lewis had accepted the principles
enunciated by the fuel administra-
tor, was denied by Mr.. Lewis.
II cannot accept anything ! do
not understand" said Mr.. Lewis,
but l do construe the statement as
justification OF the figures sub
mitted by Secretary Wilson"
Shocking Profits" Says McAdoo.
New York, Nov. 24.-Soft coal
mine owners made Shocking and
indefensible" profits in 1917 and
there is grave doubt" that they are
entitled to increased prices because
of the proposed 81 per cent increase
in miners wages, William G. Nc
Adoo, former secretary of the
treasury, declared today in a tele-
gram to Federal Fuel Administrator
Garfield. The owners profits as
shown by their income tax returns.
examined by him as secretary of
the treasury in 1918, he said, showed
earnings on capital stock ranging
from IS to 1000 per cent.
II am convinced that the wage
increases proposed for the mine
workers are just and reasonable,
he said.
Comments on Statement.
Indianapolis, Nov. 24.-The state
ment Of William G. McAdoo, former
secretary of the treasury, that coal
operators made as high as 1000 per
cent on their capital in 1917 must
be an interesting revelation to those
persons who have been wondering
about the recent coal price situa-
tion," said Ellis Searles, editor OF
the United Mine Workers Journal.
Mr.. Searles, in commenting on the
telegram sent by Mr.. McAdoo to
Federal Fuel Administrator Gar
field, which declared that the opera
tors made enormous profits in 1917
and 1918, made the following state
ment:
1.-THE statement of w. G. McAdoo,
former secretary of the treasurer,
that coal operators made shocking
and indefensible' profits in 1917,
must be an interesting revelation to
those persons who have been Won
dering about the present coal price
Evidently McAdoo knows
what he is talking about, for he had
access to the income tax returns
made by coal operators. He says
operators made as much as 1000 per
cent on their capital stock in 1917.
Ever since the wage controversy
started between the operators and
the miners, the miners have insisted
that the operators could grant a
substantial increase to the miners
out Of their profits without increas-
ing. the price OF coal to the con-
sumner. We have also said that the
operators have been making more.
money during the last two or three
years than they ever made before in
their lives, while the miners con-
tinued to work for less than living
wages. And now McAdoo makes
the showing even stronger than the
miners ever did. The trouble with
the operators all along has been
that they did not propose to do any
thing that would cut into their enor-
nous profits"