The labor world., 1919-11-15

for government by Injunction, is only
used when there is no other remedy
at law. In the days when courts Of
equity and Justice were separated no
judge would have issued such an or
der as came from, Judge Anderson, It
would have aroused the wrath Of the
other court --S:--' - - 2" >---
~ May Be for the Best.
In this instance it may be that the
miners will come out of the difficulty
with a satisfactory agreement with
the operators. Their officers ac-
eepted the order OF the court in good
grace. They yielded to constituted
authority, and If they believe that they
are victims Of judicial usurpation, they
will abide their time and use lawful
and orderly means with others of their
fellow citizens to correct the wrong
that has been done. The public will
now demand that the operators shall
make peace with the miners, and we
believe they will. The re-application
Of the Lever act operated against them
fully as effectively as it did against
the miners.
They had intended to compel the
public to pay for the cost of the
strike by increasing the price on coal,
but when DR.. Garfield fixed the price
at the mouth of the mine they were
ready at once to do business with the
union. They had no inclination to dig
down in their own pockets for the
cost of a battle with the miners In
this respect at least the government
dealt fairly with the situation.
>Ho do fn1
will come in the future. precedent.
has been established that selfish and
scheming men will not fail to take
advantage of. That is the main thing
labor fears. and it is against such
procedure the future big political
fight, so far as organized labor is con-
cerned, will be waged.
Merits of Strike.
Now as to the merits of the strike,
figures compiled by Edgar Wallace.
editor Of the Mine Workers Journal.
show why it was called.
Mr.. Wallace declared that the aver
age number Of working days during
the peak of wartime production was
228. Other facts brought out were:
During the peak year of war pro-
duction all war demands were met and
a surplus of so,ooo,ooo tons of coal
piled up.
:; Labor cost a ton of coal since 1916
has increased 40 cents.
- Selling prices of coal. at the mine
have increased about $1.75, or about
130 per cent:
The average wage raise is about "A
per cent, compared to an increased
nof ~ - p 1{y1Apa fa0 oct
which is rs. per cent
Coal production for the first nine
months of this year. January to Au-
gust, inclusive. fell off rs per cent. as
compared with 1918. ratio Of loss in =.
tonnage equal to sixty wec1cing days.
on the basis OF thai s.sowinI It is es-
timated the average number OF work
ing days for all districts in 1919 could
be $50. = ..: :.
The price Of bituminous coal at tide
water for 1914. 1913 and 1915 was
$40. On Feb. !, 1919. it was $40.
On that date the government removed
control Of prices. In 1917, with no
control, the price went to IS. -.
=, : Below Living Wage.
Mr.. - Wallace produced figures to
support the miners contention that
actual wages earned are at a point
that denies the miners standard Of
living acceptable to American workers.
. !. The only official figures for 1919 s
are those compiled by the Iowa state
officials, . Mr.. wallas continued.
These figures show that from Sept,
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