Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-24
.PROF|TEER|NG BY
COAL OPERATORS
General Public ard Miners Both
Victims, Charged by u. M.
w. Officials.
BY Associated Pres. TO Every Evening


Scranton. Pa, June 24.--The general
public and the mine workers were held up
as the Joint victims of profiteerinp on the
part of the coal operators by Philip Murray,
vice president of the United Mine Work
ers of America, III presenting today the
coal commission demand that the
workers in the Pennsylvania anthracite
fields be granted n minimum wage OF six
dollars day.
''If the excessive profits resulting from
the coal monopoly were eliminated and
the industry conducted with a wholesome
regard for the public welfare, he sold,
"a liberal return could be made 10 capital
honesty and prudently invested, the
wages of the anthracite workers could be
increased to American living standards
and the price of coal to the consumer
could he greatly reduced.
"Under the practical operation OF the
coal monopoly since 1898, both the
worker in the mines and the consumer of
anthracite coal have been .grievously
exploited. Until conditions have been
turned to the public interest there can
be no permanent hope in the industry
either for those who labor TO produce coal
or those who use it for domestic or other
purposes.
ne antntAFlIF HitfNIS t'iihits Wti'
summarized by Murray ma follows
Establishment of u minimum living
wage of ST day for oil workers, increase
of one dollar dav TO all men who receive
above the minimum,
Increase of 81 per cent on all contract
work.
Extension of the cight-hour day 10 those
occupations based on q longer work day
oh Nf9f1lr
men.
Standardization of rates Of pay for the
same work throughout the field
Formal recognition of the United Mine
Workers Of America
Murray declared the miners had re-
mained at work since the beginning Of the
controversy IN March, preferring tr
suffer individual hardships rather than
bring about general suffering 10 the
public
Throughout this period of more than
three months, the representatives of the
United Mine Workers have realized the
importance Of continuous production,
he said. "They have also been keenly
conscious of the far-reaching industrial
results which would result from o stoppags
OF work
THE constant effort, therefore. has
been to prevent late breakdown m tins
industry which would undoubtedly cause
general distress 10 the public and be
attended by serious and widespread dis
/ locations in other industries which ar6
| dependent on the anthracite coal industry
| We have constantly strlven, therefore
/ even to the impairment OF our own inter
ests, to prevent any rupture Of industrial
pcace or any interference with the produC
I a VI b,s hnxyr
| further with concessions than we have
| in order TO reach an agreement and thus
/ prevent industrial warfare and mterfer
/ ence with essential production.
Murray declared that the mine workers
were prepared 10 prove couclusively thai
/ the earning Of the big coal interests, anc
/ not wage advances TO the workers wa
/ responsible for the soaring prices TO the
! consumer
"we ran prove from official data,
/ he asserted. chat there is no relation
/ between labor costs Of mining anthracite
| coal and the exorbtant price which L
being exacted from the consumer; or II
| other words that the rates Of pay TO anthra
| cite mine workers are not the determining
| feature in fixing the price Of coal to th'
consumer. One contention will he ant
we shall demonstrate IFS correctness
that by propaganda and misrepresentation
! the attempt has been made 10 have th'
| public believe that if the wages Of anthra
| cite mine workers or other classes OF III
| dustrial workers are increased II vii
bring about another step in the viclolh
circle Of the increased cost of living
Nothing could be further from the truth
This claim. we shall show, is merely th'
expedient which has been used by tn
coal and other profiteers who have robbe'
and are robbine the public, to attempt T.
place the guilt their crimes upon labor
I'VE shall show that the interests %
| the anthracite voters and other classes
of workers are Identical with the Interests
of the public and that both the public an'
the workers are being exploited
Murray said the attitude Of the oper
ators in refusing to recognize the unioi
was a shortsighted policy.
'If the operators would recognize TN
union" he said, "the union would b
strengthened and put in position to en-
| force its contracts