Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-27

Ing prices.
THE NEW NINE PRobLEM.
|1THr naturalization Of the coal
mines 10 the big issue for which
the miners are Aghtiag for. II 10 the
big Issue that IL back Of the contro-
versy, irrespective Of the settlement
that was recently made by the miners
with the government.
The demands made BY the miners
wsrs in reality only section Of their
program. A thirty hour week struck
the public % absurd. perhaps largely
because the public did mot realize con-
ditions In the industry. But the miners
aspire to other changes Of far more
Significance. In March Of this year the
general policy committee Of the miners
met In Indianapolis. and President
Hayes. Of the United Mine Workers,
said: II urge upon this COMMITTEES to
declare for nationalizatio OF mines"
The committee 90 declared. section 5
Of its report being a. follows: I'VE
concur In the recommendation OF
PWident Hayes and declare for the
naturalization and democratic man.
asemsnt Of all coal mines in tho United
States"
This report came IN due time be-
fore tho Cleveland convention, where
the strike order was born, and the con-
ventlon approved It in long resoiu-
tion from which the following 10 taken:
We. the United Mine Workers of
America, in international conven-
ton assembled. representing the
workers who have their lives and
tho welfare Of their dependents
invested in the coal mines OF our
country, do therefore
Resolve, That we demand the
immediate naturalization OF the
coal mining industry Of the United
States.
This report Of the history Of the reso-
luton may be found complete in the
November. 1919, monthly Labor Re-
view Of the bureau Of Labor statistics
Of the United States department Of
labor. The report also contains the
statement that local miners unions
have been passing resolutions OF the
general purport for tho last twenty
years. Thus the policy was not the
product of a moments passion. but was
slowly evolved through years Of edu-
cation and thought.
Naturalization can be attempted by
legislation or by strike. Considering
tho cold fate of the Plumb plan. there
is at the present time little likelihood
of naturalization by legislation. And,
for the time being. the strike expe-
dient Is worthless. 1t is believed that
neither the miners nor the public can
be induced for some time to submit to
another season of curtailed Industrial
activity. But the present situation is
not victory for the government or
for any one else. It Is q truce. The
element Of victory in II was won in
court and little credit attaches TO what
the government did in Washington. In
fact the compromise effected in Wash
ington may easily be construed to en-
courage tho naturalization plan.
What the miners expect to achieve
by naturalization is. in brief, con-
servation Of the coal suppiy-which is
sadly needed-and the protection of
the supply from unprincipled exploita-
ton BY operators. many Of whom seem
to be actuated wholly by a desire for
money. without regard to the future.
In, the abstract this is laudabls ambi-
ton. But there 10 a solution short of
naturalization, with its attendant evil
political dangers and the risk of In
competent government management.
Tho government Is empowered to make
sane conservation laws. ana It can, II
It will control the greed Of tho oper-
ators and the defiant spirit OF the
miners. It has not done these thinKs.
but It can>do them. Unless Il acts the
miners plea for naturalization will be
greatly strengthened.