The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-11-01
MANY COAL MINERS
ARE FOREIGN BORN
SENATOR FRELINGHUYSEN
GIVES INTERESTING DATA
ON MEN WHO STRIKE

F. Morrow, vice president of the Ma
tional Coal Association in letter to
Senator Frelinghuysen, who read the
statement into the congressional rec
ord. The question came up in debate
in the senate on the threatened coal
strike. Senator Frelinghuysen said
in his address:
Mr.. President do the Senators from
Alabama know that the people in
their state would be taxed $22,O0O,-
600 to meet these demands? Do the
Senators from Michigan comprehend
that if the increase asked for were
granted their constituents would have
an enlargement of their coal bill to
the extent of $29,00O,OO0?
Are the Senators from Mississippi
aware that the citizens of their state
would be mulcted to the extent of
$24,000,000 in the event that the mine
workers have their way? Do the
Senators from New England realize
that their states would be called upon
to pay $36,000,000 to the mine work
ers' union? Do the Senators from
their state would pay would be $76,-
100000? Are the Senators from ILL
nois aware that the United Mine
Workers are demanding an annual
toll of $85 100000 from the people of
their state? And the Senators from
Pennsylvania, are they cognizant of
the fact that that commonwealth will
be called upon to pay $161, 100000 to
the same organization? My own
state is much smaller than those cited
and the extent to which my constitu-
ents would be mulcted would be con-
siderably less, yet they would be call
ed upon to contribute $13,700,000 to
the Golfers of the bituminous miners.
Are the people of the United States
prepared to go donw into their pock-
cts and pay out $1,000, 100000 year
in order that the United Mine Work
ers may have a so per cent raise in
pay, work six hours a day, and that
for only five days week?
Are the people of the United States
prepared to place any industry on
six-hour basis? In response to an
insistent demand of labor agitators
an eight-hour day has been legalized
What more do labor organizations
want?
All thinking men, all economists,
all students of trade and sociological |
conditions as we'll are demanding the |
highest degree of productivity at this |
=
ty-five or thirty million of men,
probably more-from the ordinary
fields of production, industrial and
agricultural, and the world, economic
ally, is all awry and normal condi-
tions will not prevail fer many years.
1t may take decade, or even a gene
ration to get back to healthy, rational
conditions in our domestic economy
Yet we have nearly 4OO, 900 men in
sisting that over two days shall be
dropped from the industrial calendar
each week, while idleness shah take
the place of activity and inertness the
place of production.
We all recall the great coal strike
of 1902 Prior to that the miners
worked 8 hours. Indeed at one time
they had 12-hour day. The cele-
brated Cancellation and arbitration
board, presided over by Judge George
Gray, of Delaware, reached the con-
clusion that the miners day should be
reduced to nine hours, that being
deemed a reasonable and proper
working day period. That was
promptly acquiesed in at that time.
Next came the demand for an eight
hour day, which was granted through
congressional enactment.
<1uu uOW CO1ACS tIllS 1llldI QclildilQ
for a six-hour day. Where will it
stop? Production would in due
course of time entirely end, the
wheels of production cease to revolve |
and we would have chaos and disaster
the land. ;
A demand for a 6-hour day-for 5
a 30-hour week-involves 81 per
cent cut in present working time. To {
my mind this means 81 per cent cut t
in bituminous coal production And
that in turn means but one thing, a (
coal supply so insufficient to meet the /
demands. that the closed r
factories, the idle mills, the crippled i
Industries, the unheated homes of our a
people would bring about shortage Z
worse than that of the win ]
ter of 1917-18. a
1t is out of the question for the p
miners terms to be granted The de- 0
handed decrease in working hours h
would result in industrial disaster.
The demanded increase in wages a
would impose financial burden upon a
he consumer he that can not afford S
20 bear. S
What is the alternative which the n
American Mine workers present to d
he people of the United States D
through the operators? The country m
S to be plugged into industrial chaos RI
wo weeks hence Not a pound of coal O.
will be supplied thereafter. Our fac
ories and mills will be closed Our Al
public utilities, our railroads will cease Of
o function The homes of those COM al
,elled by reason of locality to use n.
oft coal will be deprived of fuel m
Pneumonia and other diseases will be- tt
ONE widespread. Hunger and suf- Il
ering of all kinds will prevail in a
1any communities. Industrial Amer "
ca will be brought to a standstill and pl
analysis will take the place of acti- hi
ity at a time when the highest de- pr
rec of productivity should prevail.
And who are the men that have
recipitated this state of affairs
re they American citizens? To a it
cry large extent they are not A m
asst majority were born on foreign pl
Ill. and as I have said, do not speak m