The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-12-04

ductiOn Of coal will be seriously AT
tected. We understand that operating
statistics for 1919 are not now in your
possession, and we shall rely upon the
government when such statistics are
properly assembled and presented TO
make such adjustments in selling
prices as will permit these mines 10
make such fair and reasonable pronts
as they are entitled to under the Lever
law"
William Green, secretary of the Uni
ted Mine Workers, said:
Secretary of Labor Wilson states
that the mine workers are entitled 10
an increase in wages amounting 10 $40
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 Gar
field are erroneous. The mine workers
challenge the figures of Doctor Gar
field and cannot and will not accept
them. We will accept the figures OF a
responsible cabinet officer, Secretary
Wilson.
Hits at Garfield.
doctor Garfield, because of the re-
sponsible position which he occupies,
has done a great injustice to a 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 n moral
crime against the public.
Mine 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 he solved as "a college professor
would work out a problem in geometry,
algebra or theoretical philosophy.
"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
I'm the cost of living and to guarantee
them an American standard of living.
They win 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 ii 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 trle operators.
Some of the miners representatives
declared that the offer of II per cent
increase, In the face of the fact that
Secretary of Labor Wilson had Of
fered them 316 per cent, was an in
suit. They declared that the miners
would starve idle rather than 20 back
to the mines at this wage increase.
The operators, who have been ex-
pectfng that the government would see
them through on any wage increase,
declared that their margins would not
permit them to give the miners the ii
per cent out of their own pockets.
They said that it would break many of
the weaker mines and that it meant
ruin and sacrifice of years of earnings
and savings.
Garfield Adamant.
The operators for the most part
bore their disappointment in silence,
hut from the miners came denuncia-
tlon after denunciation Of the govern
mont's solution. without reservation.
and without mincing words, the miners
questioned Doctor Garfield and,
through him grilIed the government
for more than two hours.
Doctor Garfield stood adamant in the
face of the questions and the criticism
hurled mt him from the miners side of
the hall. He answered all questions
without hetrayng personal excitement
and firmly but kindly told the miners
that what he had laid before them was
purely 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 1t was as Il one looked up
at the clock and there read the time.
"The clock tells you the hour, and
that is what I have done tell you
that per cent of increase which should
he applied to the miners wages, on the
average 10 equalize wages with the
rise in the cost of living is II per cent, "
said Doctor Garfield
Shot FroS1 other Barrel.
Dr. Garfield was equally inSistent on
his finding that the price Of coal should
NOT be raised at this time This was n
shot fired from the other barrel of his
double-barreled statement 10 the con.
ference He made It clear that the
facts. as he found them, meant that If
the miners wages were increased II
per cent, rs he said should be done
that the burden should be borne en-
tirely by the operators and not by the
public.