The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-05
LEWIS. GRITI-
ssCISES WILSON
Leader of Coal Miners Says Will
son is a Usurper

! indianapolis, Oct. 30.-After dis
patching to Washington telegram to
Secretary of Labor Wilson in which
the presidents position on the coal
strike was characterized as that Of
an usurper, the executive board of the
United Mine Workers Of America to-
day, turned to routine business. AL
slough the actual strike was less than
sc hours away, the governing body
Of the union devoted the afternoon to
adjusting disputes between locals ard
individual members and at the end Of
their session said there was moth
ing of public interest," in the pro-
ceedings.
Union headquarters was frankly in
terested in the arrival here tomorrow
of C. B. Ames, assistant to the at
torney general, in charge of suits
brought under the antitrust and fuel
and food control laws. The union
leaders learned with apparent
equaninlity that there has been un-
usual activity among local agents Of
the department Of justice and pro-
fesse1 faith that their every act had
been. under warrant Of constitutional
rights which no statute could abro-
gate:
At the office of the United States
district attorney there was no an
nouncement as to what proceedings
might be instituted in regard to the
strike:
L. E. Slack, the district attorney,
was said to be in Chicago, but mem
bers of his staff would not admit that
his trip there had anything to do
with the strike situation. They said
he was expected back at his desk
here tomorrow.
The union officials said the mine
owners and public could rest assur-
ed that no act Of the organization
would be allowed to work physical
! damage to the coal diggings. They
pointed out that the strike order pro-
vided that local unions must allow
sufficient, "men to remain at work to
insure the proper care and protection
of: all mining properties in conform
ity with the provisions Of the district
agreements in the several fields"
Building fences against charges
that the demand for six hour work
ing day was: calculated ito reduce pro-
dtction. the statisticians of the union
Assem- b1ed figures which they said
proved that even the country's peak
production of 6S5.600,O00 tons OF
bit,nlinous coal in 1918 was not the
limit of the industry. They said this
was dug with the mines. averaging
only about 70 per cent of capacity
and with the skilled working force re-
duced by $4,000 miners in the army
and navy. Out Of a possible 312
working days in the year, they said
western Pennsylvania, miners aver
aged 268, Indiana 249. Illinois 2SS and
Ohio\ 224. The bulk of bituminous
tonnage came from those States.
Against this record they set figures
for 1919 which they, said showed that
the mines had operated at not to ex-
ceed so per cent Of the time. Despite
this reduction in time, they said 1919
production Of the country up to Oc-
tober Is was 379,OOO,0o0 tons, only
I03, 100000 tons less than in the
! same period of 1918. They estimat-
ed that the mine workers will not av-
erage more than 1S0 working days in
1913 and claimed that a full working
force working, steadily throughout the
year can produce 100000 tons if
need be- They said the estimated
needs of the country for 1920 Were
$50, ,0O0,00 tons.
So,,roc Ellis
Searles, editor o. the unions >maga-
zine. that there are too many min
ers in the coal business for an eight
hour day The shorter day would
distribute the work evenly through
| out the year and it would take only
short time to educate consumers
to buy on the basis Of steady rather
than seasonal production.
Furthermore eight hours may be
short enough for men to work in the
! fresh air and sunlight, but it is too
long a period for continuous labor IN
the dark under forced ventilation.
Men work themselves out quickly in
dungeons
Increased wages are necessary, he
said. because in 1918 Illinois mine
workers of all classes averaged earn
| ings of 1,3903S The first Six months
of 1919 showed average earnings Of
57208. he said, indicating decreased
earning powers in the face of constant
mounting living cost. From January
l, 1913, to July /, 1919, he said. the
mine workers Of the central competl-
tive field had averaged yearly earn
ings Of $S73.S5.