The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-29
NO ONE SATISFIED
WITH COAL MINE
CRISIS OUTLOOK
CONTINUED Frqm First Page.)

ueut, secretary wilson IL charged Dy
law with the task OF mediation. He
conferred with both sides. and exam
med statistics and figures on costs and
wages, He conceived his function to
he the making of wage scale salts
factory to operators and miners,
The cost OF living had increased I9S
per cent since 1913. But since that
time there had, been an increase in
wages So be subtracted the increase
In wages which had been given, and
II still left 81 per cent as the neces-
sary increase in wages TO meet the
high cost of living.
Along came the operators to point
out that Mr.. Wilson based his figures
on the men engaged in pick mining,
which they claimed produced only 40
per cent or thereabouts OF the annual
production Of coal, whereas machine
mining produces the remainder
But Secretary Wilson declares that
the amount of money that must be paid
to induce the men engaged in 40 per
cent production must be enough to en-
able them to meet the cost of living
or hundreds Of thousands Of men will
be dissatisfied, and the trouble In the
coal fields Is FAR from settled.
Asked 40 Per Cent.
II must not be forgotten that the
miners themselves wanted a ~ per
cent increase IN wages, but Secretary
Wilson pared that down to 81 per cent
and they stood willing to abandon other
demands and agree 10 a settlement
The operators didn't say fatty that
| they would agree, but they intimated
| that II they didn't have to absorb the
| entire wage increase but could charge
the public a little more. for coal. 1t
would protect them against declining
| prices, and other high costs of materi-
ais Secretary Wilson assumed that the
| fuel administrator, DR.. Garfield. charged
| by the Lever act, and the authority OF
| the president, to fix the selling price
OF coal would increase that price just
enough to furnish the incentive to pro-
| duction and a resumption of work,
| There was the beginning Of good feel
| ing A settlement seemed in sight,
| Happiness prevailed as 1t appeared that
! the big coal strike would be settled.
Garfield's Position.
But Of sudden Dr. Garfield entered
the controversy with lire of argu-
ment totally new to both operators and
miners. He declared that he wouldn't
| increase the selling price OF coal, and
| moreover, that he construed his powers
| as sufficient to set wages, because 1t
was q factor in the cost of production,
The cabinet differed with him
| Lengthy debate ensued. Finnaly DR..
pGarfield politely told the cabinet they
| could accept his plan or submit his ras-
| ignation to President Wilson. The cab
| met hesitated to take such an intricate
controversy to the president in his
present state of health. All finally
| agreed that Or. Garfield did have the
power to fix the selling price of coal
and that the cabinet could not take II
away from him. ,@.
Some members of the cabinet pro-
tested that DR. Garfield didn't have
the power to enter into cost of produce
ha ,t.t,i n wa N mr.
than lie could tell the operators how
much to pay for steel rails or other
items in their cost list. This power he
| would have II the mines were taken
over, but not at present. Anyway, the
cabinet was powerleFs. They could do
nothing but stand behind Dr. Garfield,
unless they carried the matter to the
president
Garfield Goes Ahead.
50 DR.. Garfield has gope ahead. And
Secretary Wilson has withdrawn as
mediator. For he was put In the posi-
ton OF encouraging both onerators ana
miners to believe he had the power to
negotiate with them wage settlement,
and suddenly another authority inside
the government appears with the power
10 fix wages There Is the best of feel
Ing between Secretary Wilson and Dr.
Garfield. But the one believes the pro-
l
OF thousands of men with deficit al
the end OF the week. while the other
believes the miners can reduce tneH
standard of living and get along as best
they can for the reason that the gen
eral public shall not be required to pay
any more for coal,
To tho idea that the pubic shall not
be further burdened with costs there Is
general agreement but there also Is
no question that the whole situation Is
A confession OF the governments ina
bility to reduce the entire cost of Nv
ing beyond Lhe removal of profiteering
Basic Factors Remain
The basic factors remain the same
The head of the miners union asks
why thew should be compelled to Under
20 virtual reduction In wages because
the purchasing power of their dollars
, have diminished, when the public con
tlnues TO charge the miner more to1
} shoes, for groceries, for rent, for bulld
ing materials, and all the other items
! that 20 into the household budget
The government is confident 1t cal
break the strike. Miners admit Thu
r might happen at the end of six or sever
! weeks OF struggling 70 the point OF ex
haustion But should the government
I use its power TO enforce q viewpoih
: that il admittedly the result OF dltter
ences Of opinion inside its own caplnel
! and without the sanction of the heat
Of the government. who "a 700 III 10 .
asked 10 take decisive stand in tn
disuuts9 That Is the question. Miner
and operators will resume negotiation
az soon as the president or his cabine
disentangle the web,
Ironyriqht 1919 by David Lawrence.