The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-18
l2,OCC, 600 Tons Lost In Ten
Weeks BY Inadequate
Supply Of Cars
100000 MINERS PLAN
TO ASK WAGE INCREASE
Operators Tell Senate COMMITTEES That
Radical Miners Are Trying To
Install Soviet Methods In Mining.

in ten weeks and threatens to bring
about recurrence Of the coal famine
Of 1918, unless checked without de-
day, according to testimony given by
John Callahan, traffic manager of the
National Coal Association, before the
senate committee investigating the
coal situation, at its first days hearing I
here
During the two weeks ending All
gust and g." Mr.. Callahan said, "car
shortage caused the bltumlnouS coal
mines Of the country to lose approx
mately 100000 tons Of coal, enough |
to supply the entire state Of New Jer-
sey for ten months. The loss in ten
weeks has been sufficient to supply all
the New England States for eight
months"
Mr.. Callahan declared that If there
are not cars at the mines 1t Is impOs-
sble to operate the mines to full
time capacity. The shortage Of cars
had come, he said, at the time demand
for coal Is increasing, and at time
when railroad efficiency should be 1t
q maximum.
IF the bituminous coal operators Vt
the country are given sufficient cars
to take away the coal they mine Mr..
Callahan said land II there are no
labor disturbances to prevent the op-
Grafton Of their mines, they can supply
sufficient fuel to meet the country's
requirements next fall and winter.
If they are not supplied with more
cars, there undoubtedly will be repc-
tition Of the coal shortage Of 1918,
at least to some degree
Shortage of cars is not alone the
only threatening situation in the In
dustry, however according to Harry
n. Taylor, Of Kansas City, president
of the association who preceded Mr.,
Callahan on the witness stand. The
G0OOO0 miners employed throughout
the nation are about to formulate de-
mandS for higher wages, Mr.. Taylor
declared. The more radical among
the number, he said, were endeavoring
to apply the methods of the soviet
government Of Russia to the btu
minous industry, If their counsel
should sway the more conservative Of
their numbers and extremely radical
demands should be made, which could
not be acceded to, Mr. Taylor said lie
doubted if the operators could mine
a pound of COAL
"T0 save the public from calamity
Mr.. Taylor said, at will be necessary
to overcome three things: First, that
we do not have an extraordinarily
severe winter; second, that the rail
road administration move the coal in a
regular manner, and third, that by
effort of the miners we produce 1t
least 100000 tons of btumnou>
coal weekly for the remaining nine
teen weeks of the year
This is more than has beer. prOduceC
in any one week during the year thus
far.
All wage agreements between
miners and operators, Mr.. Taylor said
would expire with the proclamation o
peace by the President The miners
had already decided, Mr.. Taylor saj'
he was Informed, in one section, to tr,
| to obtain a slx-hOur working day. a
against eight hours now, five da,
| week, and an increase in pay. The
will meet in Cleveland, ohio, Sep
TENDER 9, he said, to decide on whd
| demands to make Of the operators an
there will be joint conference be
tween operators and miners at Buffalo
September %.
IF this convention Of September ,
fails In agreement" Mr.. Taylor sait
| Il do not know whether we are goin
to be able TO mine any coal or not,
very seriously doubt whether we vii
| With that condition confronting us /
the mining world, the situation is yer
serious If that goes into effect ther
Is little or no hope Of overcoming
very serious shortage Of coal this wiz
ter and great suffering in the country.
Miners were given a substantial "
crease In wages by the President du,
ing the days Of the fuel admlnistrG
ton, Mr.. Taylor said, and It was NJ
uncommon In many fields for the Ii
dustrious men, in time of full-tim
operation, to earn S15 day or NOR,
But they are getting restless he sail
Already the more radical element a"
| determined to put into effect the 81
Wet government Of mlnes," he d.
| clared.