New-York tribune., 1920-01-28
Winners InCGnS60
BY Attacks Made
On Anericanisn
Accusations Over Demands
for Wage Increase Start
Sharp Controversy; Hoo
yer Quoted in 6-Hour Plea
NetC York Tribune
Wdshir atom Bureau

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-With the
representatives, of the miners stand
ing pat on their original demands for
a 60 per cent increase in pay with a
six-hour day and five-day week, the
hearings Of the Presidents coal COM
mission were resumed here to-day
Miners and operators were in at
tendance and almost at the outset
there was sharp clash when John L.
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers, took exception to the
charge made by Don Rose, an attorney
of Pittsburgh, representing the opera
tors Of the Freeport district in Western
sylvana, that the demands of the
miners were "unthink able and un-
American"
Mr.. Lewis was on his feet in an In
stant, and declared
~ 40 not propose to sit here and per
nit the Americanism Of the miners of
TINS country to be questioned We
yield to no one, least of all the oper-
ators, in our allegiance to the Ameri-
can government, the American flag and
the American traditions. Our Ameri-
canism is not on trial"
wage increase Sought
Mr.. Rose insisted that the miners
were seeking the twofold result of an
indirect increase in wages and a lim
tatlon upon production
Under the Lever law" he said
"both of these propositions are illegal
and we believe them to be un-Amcri-
can. We regard them as an attempt
to make of the miners a favored class u
Chairman Henry NJ. Robinson, the
pupllc's representative on the commits
sion, made the following announced
ment at the outset of the hearing:
requests rom several districts have
been presented to the commission for
Its determination of questions arising
out of the application of the ID per
cent average advance. It is fair to as
sumo the President expected that the
Ia per cent average increase would be
applied by the operators and miners in
a manner to stabilize the industry
pending the survey and final award OF
the commission. In making its final
award the commission will consider and
determine the application of the ID per
cent average wage increase"
Much of to-day's session was taken
up by the minor in submitting
through Van II. Bittner, acting stats
tician Of the United Mine Workers, q
mass of statistical data in support OF
their demands.
HOover's Words Used
Mr.. Bittner, in urging the six-houl
day, declared that Herbert Hoover, for
mer Food Administrator, had, as man
ager for the Durham Coal Mines, in
Northumberland, England said that he
would not work men in the mines in
shifts longer than six hours, "if he had
the opportunity" He cited this, he
said, to show that Mr.. Hoover was ar
advocate of the six-hour day in the
mines.
During the war, said Mr.. Bittner, the
operators profits increased 316 pei
cent. The miners, he asserted, are not
making enough to support a family
properly, which. he said. would require
an income Of $2243 q year. He asked {
wage that would permit the miners to
save 10 per cent Of their earnings anc
make up wartime losses due to the
decrease in the purchasing power OF
the dollar.
In this connection the miners repre-
sentative spoke dsparagingly of the
program of the Department of Justice
to bring down the cost Of living, stat.
ing that since this campaign was
launched the cost of living had actually
advanced 7 per cent.