New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-28

citizenship directly concerned with the
mining industry.
Il cannot believe that the people Of
our country will endorse policy of
oppression and repression which means
continued industrial chaos and intense
suffering on the part of the mine work
sra and our entire citizenship.
Eve came to Washington on the in
vltation of Secretary Wilson, believing
that justice would be melted out to us.
We have made an honest effort to set
tie our differences, but in the end we
found that justice had been denied
u.s."
Immediate Resumption Demanded
The operators scale committee, in
letter to DR.. Garfield, accepted the Ia
per cent wage increase. but asserted the
additional cost, with no corresponding
increase in prices to the consumer.
would mean no profits at all to many
mines. The letter follows:
Recognizing the seriousness of the
present crisis and the urgent need of
the country for coal, we wish to ad
wise you that, subject to your approval
and conditioned upon the mines re-
Stunning operations Immediately, the
Operators Scale Committee of the
Central Competitive Coal Field accepts.
as basis for the settlement of the
present wage controversy and termi-
nation of the strike, the figures sub
mitted by you to the joint meeting of
operators and miners held yester-
day evening, namely, an average in
crease of II per cent, to be granted
to all classes of mine labor such in
crease to be apportioned in accord
ance with the wage bases that are &C
ceptable to the employees and en-
ployers, thus preserving present diff
ferentials. Otherwise. than as above
modified in complete accordance with
your proposal, the present contract in
all its terms and conditions to be con-
tinued in full force and effect until
March 81, 1922.
Price Increase Urged
eve already have notified the min
ers to this effect.
cat the same time we wish to call
your attention to the fact that the &C.
ceptance Of this increase in wages
without any increase in selling prices
entirely eliminates the profits of a
large number Of mines-such a large
number, in fact. we fear that the pro
duction Of coal will be seriously af-
fected
1--WE understand that operating sta.
tistics for 1919 are not now in your
possession, and we shall rely upon the
govern men., when such statistics are
properly assembled and presented. to
make such adjus tments in selling
prices as will permit these mines to
make such fair and reasonable profit
as they are entitled to under t G Lever
law
Green Calls Garfield Unjust
William Green, secretary of the
sA11 j IL.
ment to-night:
Secretary OF Labor Wilson states
that the mine workers are entitled to
an increase in wages amounting to 81
per cent. DR.. Garfield says ii per
cent. Obviously, these two conclusions
conflict with each other, and, to say
the least, are confusing. The miners
know TIE figures Of Secretary of
Labor Wilson are approximately cor
rect and the figures of DR.. Garfield are
erroneous. The mine workers chal-
lenge the figures of Dr. Garfield and
cannot and will not accept them. We
will accept the figures OF responsible
Cabinet officer, Secretary Wilson.
Or. Garfield, because of the respon-
sible position which he occupies. has
done a great injustice to million
miners in America. His statement ard
declsl ion have served to inject into the
settlement OF the miners wage con-
troversy an almost insurm ountable OBJ
stacle. In that respect his action APP
proaches the comm ission of q moral
crime against the public.
accept Means Sacrifice
"The mine workers cannot mine coal
It the figures fixed by DR.. Garfield
The acceptance OF his conclusion would
mean untold sacrifice, suffering and
deprivation on the part Of the miners
and their families. The problem of
decent wages and decent American
standard of living, together with an
adequate production of coal, cannot be
solved as q college professor would
work out q problem in geometry, alge-
bra or theoretical philosophy.
"The practical way to solve the pres
ent problem of coal production is to
grant the miners an increase in wages
sufficient to meet the increase in cost
Of living and guarantee them an Amer
lean standard of living. They will
then risk their lives in the mines, ac-
cept all the hazards OF the industry
and mine a steady stream of coal
sufficient to meet every requirement"