The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-01
Inflated Profits Would Pay All of the Coal
!, Miners Demands, Declares Pres j. L. Lewis

NArttik>Attfk~s ~ 49, NV -
there viii be no compounds by
thr United Mine Workers OF America
on the principles involved In the
rrr~ent issue with the hitumlnous
rcal operators" John l.. lewis. prcai.
ecnt OF the miners. declared here.
The operators. Lewis insisted. have
sought 60 mlslead the pubic. both
a 70 the nature OF tho demands OF
he workers and the cost 60 the con.
cunning public Of their acceptance.
~ entire demands. he said. could
ana should he met out Of inflated
crcfsts the operators are now reap.
inr. and without any material In,
crease IN costs 20 tho consuming
pubic.
Continuity % Service
Lewis. square shcuidered. square.
Awed. declared his men wanted no
nrht with the operators. but were
determined 90 set At least approx
mate justice and living wage,
Continuity Of employment. thru the
shortening Of the workday. and a
wage that will alleviate hunger IN
III fItlAtlIk t&lAAttr anu ttNtANt tfit
families OF the workers In comfort
arr the essentials on which the work.
srs base their case.
q The coal operators have assidu.
eusiy cultivated In the public mind.
thru the instrumentality OF their II.
eAntic statistical and press bureaus.
backed by unlimited sums Of money.
The belief that the United Mine
Workers are making radical and out.
Raxeous demands. out Of all proper.
tion TO the ability oreshc mining In
dustry TO supply them" Lewis said.
The demands Of the mine workers
for a shorter weekday and suhstan.
tiaI increases In wuges are the log.
hal outgrowth OF a comprehensive
understanding Of the needs Of the
Industry and n knowledge of the
physical necessities OF the workers
IN the mines.
The compelling force Of physical
necessity requires that q new wage
Agreement be negotiated. effective
November I. 1918.
War Theory ID Fiction
-s~rene In the confidence cf their
NOUS war profits. the operators have
peremptorily refused 90 discuss the
merits Of a possible new wage agree
nenI They take refuge behind the
kgAiistic barrier that In theory the
var with the central powers Is not
I yet ended.
This attitude n merely a subter.
fuxe 10 enable them to continue
longer the reaping of their pro
dss1ous profits and 20 crcate a panic
In the public mind which win bring
the operators even added security.
As matter Of fact. the derna nts
Of the mine workers. both as 20 the
slscrsening OF the workdAy and the
granting OF higher wages. could BE-
applied 10 toto without any material
incrsase IN the price Of coal TO the
eonsumlng public. The present mar
IN Of profit to the operators. as
shown by the recent report Of the
1u1eral trade commission. II sum.
ejentiy large as TO practically cover
- Increased wage 10 the miner and
- V0SunA 1Afr HSAr&tu OK return.
-Ersnsmie Prsgram-
The demands Of the mine wcrkerx
- purely an economic program and
1avU no relation TO any radical or
nngA-sa4iical political reforms being
o1voonfsd By cer<Ain elements In our
noescn. The position Of the miners
- besn dictated By the elements OF
phyufcAl necessity which arr in.
vuoved. and we shah not be deferred
from cur program by any false Is
suas which may be injected into the
situation BY the coal operators or
~ interests which may Be IN oppo
mt1On to our deruands
The miners are loyal. patriotic
d0sns. as demonstrated by their
war service. We have intense
prade In their Ancricanlsn- We ar.
peoud Of the traditions and demo
cDftc institutions OF our country; we
have given our flesh and blood, our
- and our sinew. 10 insure their
p~Dstuisy."