The Washington times., 1920-09-04
MOVE
TO OWN MINES
Miners Talk "Plumb Plan" Idea
for Control Of U. S.
Coal Fields.

Fflterins down through the ranks
Of organized labor today 10 tho littls
brother OF the Plumb plan for control
and operation of the railroads. This
blood relation has a new goal. that OF
democratic control and operation OF
the coal mines" Propaganda already
has been started for labor ownership
and operation OF the mines.
Just how long this new effort to
emulate Plumb has been under way is
not known. IL is said that the first
serious discussion OF labor ownership
and operation OF the mines began at
he Montreal convention OF the Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor. Gradually this talk
developed into action until now some
hing concrete. though not definite
and final. Is being offered as a plan.
According TO the alluring bait being
offered the miners, without any other
investment on their part than the
labor they are now giving. they are
to become joint owners OF the mines
with those who have money invested.
1t is proposed that the charters un-
der which the mines are now operater
shall be revoked In each of tho States
and that q certain period be given the
mining companies in which to wind
up their existing business affairs.
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT.
Then. when this period was at an
end. the process of democratic de-
velopment would be as follows:
First-New charters would be issued
to each of the companies, with the
present owners being given capital
stock on which a certain rate OF divi-
dend was to be assured.
The dividend presumably was to be
8 per cent annually.
Second-The miners working in the
mines were then to be given an issue
of "labor stock" which entitled thom
to full voting privileges, but which
did not guarantee any dividend.
Third-The mining company was
then to be operated by q board of di-
rectors elected by the present owners
and the laborers-
Fourth-at the close Of each year,
when the final settlement was made.
after the dividend of 6 per cent on
the capital stock was provided for.
the remaining pronts was to be d.
vided into two equal parts. One OF
these was to be known as "investing
surplus" and tho other as q Saving
surplus" The saving surplus then
was to be divided equally between the
the same relation that the dividends
IN the capital stock bore to the wages
earned by the employees
Fifth-The Investing surplus" then
was to be invested in betterments and
new extensions for the company.
Sixth--For public protection" IL
was to be guaranteed under the char
ter that the price of coal in tho year
following any surplus of profit. would
be reduced to the amount of this
surplus.
HAS ORGANIZED FIELD.
At present the movement does not
seem to have the ground work Of
fered by the Plumb plan for railroad
control, but 1t has just as thoroughly
an organized field in which to work.
The United Mine Workers arc just as
railroad brotherhoods. and to them
the appeal is being made. It Is being
made now in a quiet way. without any
organized effort to put it over, but
just as sure as the night follows tho
day, according to those proposing IL.
It will be pushed with a very capable
organization at some time in the near
future.
1t was pointed out by those now
doing the pushing that the public
would be assured Of protection. 1t
was said that tho managers and the
workers would be pressed each year
to make a profit or surplus to divide
among themselves, and that after
reduction in the price of coal after
each surplus recording year" 1t
would make for the utmost produc-
ton and efficiency in the following