The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-09-16
EXPLANATION OF COAL STU.
ALTON. ACCORDING TO
GOLD BEN"


Mr. f. B. Shelton, local coal
dealer. has lately received the fol-
lowing letter from a prominent coal
operator in answer to many inquiries
made Of him concerning early de-
livery Of coal:
A complete cessation Of coal pro-
duction at all Old Ben mines was
caused by the strike that was called
on July 20 BY the daymen who felt
that they had not received proper
consideration in the wage scale adj
justment that had been agreed upon.
President Wilson, on July 30, APP
pealed to the men to return to work,
impressing upon them the fact that no
errors that might have been made by
the Bituminous Coal Commission in
it's aword that became effective April
list could be corrected while they
were on a strike.
He promised if they would return
TO work at once that he would inn
mediately summon the joint wage
scale committee to consider and adj
Just any inequalities that might ex-
list.
AS a result Of this appeal the men
returned to work on August 8. and
the president promptly summoned the
scale committee to meet in Cleve-
land, Ohio, on August IS.
This meeting brought out clearly
that in working out the bituminous
coal commissions award, inequalities
had developed in its operation when
applied to different states. when it
was applied to Pennsylvania it did
not fit Illinois; the result in Illinois
did not work out in Ohio. Indiana
conditions did not harmonic in Ohio;
in short, the same adjustment for all
of these competitive states proved
impossible, and as a result the Cleve-
land meeting adjourned and the
operators agreed to meet the miners
in their respective states. feeling that
a much better understanding and adj
iustment Of inequalities could be ar
rived at in this way.
The miners and operators Of Illi-
nois met in Chicago at the Audi
forum Hotel on August 20. and re-
NAMED in continuous session until
an agreement was reached, by which
the day and monthly men will re-
ceive an advance of $3.50 a day, this
wage increase to be retroactive from
August 16.
Other minor difficulties. such as
the price of powder to the miners
and the application Of the automatic
penalty clause in the contract award
Of the Bituminous Coal Commission,
were also adjusted.
We are very hopeful that the re-
suit Of this joint conference between
Illinois miners and operators will re-
move all friction and that labor will
now get down to real working basis
and produce every ton of coal pos
sible, and that the local strikes which
have impeded distribution to our trade
NAV become things of the past.
The slowing down Of the automo-
bile and other kindred industries is
proving very helpful to the railroads,
as they are now better able to secure
mechanics for repairing their locomo-
tives and cars, and as result their
motive power and carrying capacity
should, week by week. show very
much needed increase.
With the tremendous handicap Of
inadequate labor to maintain equip
ment properly markedly relieved.
with a noticeable wage and freight
advance, coupled with the ending Of
all government supervision on Sep
TENDER /, much better transporta-
ton situation should soon manifest
itself.
AS a result of the improved condi-
tions that have been noted above, Old
Ben is very hopeful that the coal
situation may from now on be on a
better plane to serve the public,