Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-27

IerWlC US, HoW, 10 uTdW InlS SupJecI
to the attention of those depending on
hearths, next winter. We will presume
that you are interested. We will pre-
sumo no difficulty on your part in recall
ing the hardships when the United Mine
Workers closed all the mines under their
control in Observation-Disclosures, 1919.
We doubt not that you will recall that
the Williamson and adjoining nonunion
fields furnished you your almost total
supply Of coal during that crucial time.
Now, then, for an open secret. The
Williamson field has been chosen by the
United Mine Workers as the key to
the adjoining Pocahontas, Winding Gulf,
Raleigh and Logan fields in West Vir-
ginia and the fields of eastern Kentucky.
If they can make their break through this
field their chances are enlarged for subse-
quent supremacy in the other coal fields
mentioned.
Give them supremacy over this ter
ritory and they will have control of
practically the entire bituminous coal
production of the United States. With
that control they will have easily within
their grasp the power which they sought
in 1919, Of freezing the country into SUBJ
mission to the program outlined by their
National Convention, of
Naturalization of the coal industry;
Cooperation instead of competition;
Six-hour day and fve-day week;
The right to bargain with the govern
ment.
What would this power to shut off coal
production mean to the warming of YOUR
hao r. nd tba nf
range?
The Williamson field and those imme-
diately contiguous to it as enumerated
above, have production capacity of
100000 tons month, or 25,000,000 tons
during the five winter months.
Accepting the usual estimate of ton
per month per family, which will likely
hold true, the capacity of these fields, if
undisturbed will yield provision for five
million families during the winter season.
Assuming again that the ordinary
family is correctly estimated by census
statistics at five persons, these fields have
the capacity of providing 25,000,000 peo-
pie, or about one-fourth of the total popu-
lation, with their winters fuel supply.
These figures and estimates are only
suggestive, but are worthy of considera-
tion. The railroads must have fuel to
carry fuel to you. The navy and the
shipping interests will have demands that
must be attended to. And unless indus
try is supplied, there are but few that will
be able to provide their fuel supply.
Is not this statement worthy of stu
dious, conscientious, family-loving con-
sideration?
The United Mine Workers has defied
industry 1t has defied the American
family. 1t is contemptuous of its con-
tracts with operators. 1t scorns public
necessities.
May we not ask YOU as an independ-
ent coal user, whether you wish, in view
Of your personal convenience and neces-
sity and comfort, to depend upon our
efforts and strategy in providing your
winters supply Of coal, or upon the good
faith of an organization that wantonly
breaks its contracts and is lacking in SYM
pathy for the personal, public and indus
trial demands of all coal users?
This is our second address through the
press to the coal users of the country. We
desire to acknowledge with appreciation
the many responses made by readers of
our former address, and their tender of
support in the fight we are making. Our
sole purpose in going to the public is to
advise and warn the people of the possi-
bility of fuel trouble during next winter.
that they may lodge the blame therefor
where 1t properly belongs-upon the
United Mine Workers of America.