Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-09

an Increase In wages amounting to 31.6
per cent. Mr.. Garfield says IA per
cent. Obviously these two conclusions
conflict with each other and, to say
the least, are confusing. The mine
workers know the figures of Secretary
Of Labor Wilson are approximately
correct and the figures of Doctor Car
| field are erroneous. The mine workers
| challenge the figures of Doctor Car
them. We will accept the figures OF
responsible cabinet officer, Secretary
Wilson.
doctor Garfield, because of the re-
sponsible position which he occupies,
| has done a great injustice to million
miners in America. His statement and
decision has served to inject into the
settlement of the miners wage contro-
versy an almost insurmOuntable OBJ
stacle., In that respect his action APP
proaches the commission of a moral
crime against the public.
milne workers cannot mine coal at
| the figures fixed by Doctor Garfield.
The acceptance of his conclusion
would mean untold sacrifice, suffering
| and deprivation on the part of the
miners and their families. The prob
lem of decent wages and a decent
American standard of living, together
with an adequate production of coal
cannot be solved as a college professor
would work out problem in geometry,
algebra or theoretical philosophy.
1.-The practical way to solve the
present problem of coal production Is
| to grant the miners an increase in
| wages sufficient to meet the increase
| in the cost of living and to guarantee
them an American standard of living.
They will then risk their lives in the
mines. accept all the hazards of the
| industry and mine a steady stream of
| coal sufficient to meet every require
ment."
Garfield's Ruling.
Acting under instructions from the
cabinet, United States Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield told the coal miners
and the operators that the wage in
crease for the miners should be IA per
cent and that the price of coal to the
public should not be raised.
This declaration, coming from the
government as a basis for settling the
wage controversy. was received With
great dissatisfaction by both the
miners and the operators.
Of fha r1inoTS' 70 fiuoc
declared that the offer of IA per cent
increase, in the face of the fact that
Secretary of Labor Wilson had Of
fered them BIG per cent, was an in
suit They declared that the miners
would starve idle rather than go back
to the mines at this wage increase.
The operators, who have been ex-
pecting that the government would see
them through on any wage increase,
declared that their margins would not
permit them to give the miners the IA
per cent out of their own pockets
They said that it would break many of
the weaker mines and that 1t meant
ruin and sacrifice of years of earnings
and savings.
The operators for the most part
bore their disappointment in silence,
but from the miners came denuncia-
ton after denunciation of the govern
ment's solution. Without reservation,
and without mincing words, the miners
questioned Doctor Garfield and.
through him grilled the government
for more than two hours.
Doctor Garfield stood adamant in the
face of the questions and the criticism
hurled at him from the miners side of
the hall. He answered all questions
without betraying personal excitement
and firmly but kindly told the miners
that what he had laid before them was
purely a series of facts.
Doctor Garfield said his statement
was made on the facts and the figures
in the case as he had investigated it.
He said that it was as if one looked up
at the clock and there read the time.
1.-The clock tells you the hour, and
that is what l have done. l tell you
that per cent of Increase which should
be applied to the miners wages, on the
average to equalize wages with the
rise in the cost of living is IA per cent"
said Doctor Garfield.
Shot From other Barrel.
| DR.. Garfield was equally insistent on
his finding that the price of coal should
| shot fired from the other barrel of his
| double-barreled statement to the con-
ference. He made it clear that the
| facts, as he found them, meant that if
| the miners wages were increased IA
per cent, as he said should be done,
that the burden should be borne en-
tirely by the operators and not by the
public.
DIR. Garfield also made third state
ment, which almost ranks in impor-
| lance with his two main propositions.
This was that government control of
price will be maintained at present.
This means that the government does
not intend to relax its grip on the coal
situation through holding prices within
maximum limit.
sit seems to me that the reasonable
way to deal with this situation" Gar
field said, sis to give the industry as
whole an average increase common
surate with the increase IN the cost
of living and then let that amount of
increase be apportioned In accordance
with the wage basis that is accept
able to the employers and the employ
eeS,
"The present negotiation stands by
itself. but 1t is far from disposing of
the fundamental controversy between
operators and mine workers. That
controversy is bound TO be a continu-
ing one as matters now stand. There
fore, to aid in applying the principles
which have governed US and which
should govern in reaching conclusions
/ in the futIre IL Is urged that congress