Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-26
YOUR WINTERS COAL

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 MISUNDERSTANDING, 1919.
We doubt not that you will recall that
the Williamson and adjoining non-union
fields furnished you your almost total
supply OF coal during that crucial time
Now, then, for an open secret. The Will
hanson 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 Ken
lucky. If they can make their break
through this field, their chances are en-
larged for subsequent supremacy in the
other coal fields mentioned
Give them supremacy over this terri
tory and they will have control Of practi-
cally the entire bitnminous coal produc-
ton of the United States. With that con-
troll they will have easily within their
grasp the power which they sought in
1919, of freezing the country into sub
mission to the program outlined by their
National Convention, of
Naturalization of the coal industry;
Cooperation instead Of competitions;
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 hearth and the heating Of YOUR
kitchen range?
The Williamson field and those imme-
diately contiguous to it, as enumerated
al On IF
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 25,000.0O0 peo-
pie, or about one-fourth Of the total
population, with their winters fuel
supply.
These figures and estimates are only
suggestive, but are worthy of considera-
ton. 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
industry 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-
siderhtion?
The United Mine Workers has defed
industry. 1t has deGed the American
family. 1t is contemptuous Of it's con-
tracts with operators. 1t scorns public
necessities.
May we not ask YOU, as an indepen-
dent coal user, whether you wish, in view
OF your personal convenience and neccs-
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
sympathy for the personal, public and
Industrial 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 apprecia-
ton 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
possibility Of fuel trouble during next
winter, that they may lodge the blame
therefor where it properly belongs
upon the United Mine Workers Of
America,
spERhTNRS ASSOcIATION