The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-20
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EEES GOSSIP

l51I13TulE7DA G.. sa0t. 20.
Il tom oGSthet cOal In
Justly of the United atates-that
% lone Of the big dghts
coueraSs
ara / d number, and . va,
n cnaI Sbills asleep in the
tees Of both branches OF
fddfegBS embody1ng an ASsort
of schemes to put Uncle Sam
as coal business all the way
Son production to selling agen.
ias some OF these bills call fol
ntts and-out government ownership.
IS realized by the operators
they face q stiff fight to re
insindependant control OF theiI
properties and the disposition OF
tie pfoductB. There is no small
nor influential group OF men In
CONGRESS who want something
ions with and to the coal indus
Senator Kenyon Is the latest te
step into the limeIight to proclaim
himself One Of this group. The
that he Is chairman OF the
fcultural Abloc" in the Senate
regarded as significant; it may
line up that class element in botb
branches of Congress in favor OF
putting the government into the
Coal business,
n Is looked on as a foregone
c6ncIusion that the United Mine
,itpofkers OF America will be IL
fiie fight to bring this about.
y What Is called naturalization OF
lie coal mines Is one of the ten
ets Ia It's announced program. Tho
ttierents Of government owner
chip control and regulation are
fe1pected to quit splitting nairs as
their various pet theories as
what should be done with OF
10 the coal industry, and com
promise on some one plan OF al
tack against it.
Before leaving Washington for
4 West Virginia where he goes as
z chairman of subcommittee to
y formally" investigate the min
ling sssS1tion in the kogan-Minge
region Senator Kenyon announced
that he would have bill ready tc
apresent at the opening of the Sen
ate. next Wednesday. He declar
tSed there were signs OF a Goa,
Shortage IN the coming winter.
With soaring prices for the small
9eonsumer, and that now was the
ftfire for Congress 70 bestir itself
fand see that tho consumer was
protected from extortion.
He declared that he was oppos
ed to the idea Of Congress wait
ms and doing nothing until winter
comes and there is distress among
CONSUMERS because OF a shortage
alleged or real. and because Of
high prices In the spot market:
Senator La Toilette also wants
coal regulation enacted, but sa'
lie had been delayed in preparing
d bill because he had been busy
as d member Of the Finance com
taittea.
The attempt which started with
the GaIderTEdge bill introduced in
tse Senate last April to regulate
the coal industry, failed This
bin was followed BY a group Of
regulatory bills presented by Sen
tor elinShusen. These also fail
cd. But 1t is contended now that.
Que to the disturbances in the
West Virginia coal fields and the
national publicity given to the
secal question as consequence,
that the last fight in congress to
control coal will, by compaTisc. 2
he as nothing to the. one which Is
now predicted, and for which tie
cpal.controllers and their oppon.
ents are making ready for. The
latter forces, outside OF congress.
3sfhnal membership, will be lead
bS,a West Virginian, Mr.. j. G.
Bradley OF Dundon, w. Va, who
Is the president of the powerful
National Coal Association, which
has It's headquarters III Washing
ton ando is alert in looking after
\ The interests Of the coal industry
in all its branches, and every
where, and quicl: to defend It
against attack and to fight back II
1T be found necessary and cxpedi.
6In the house there are a mum.
d her Of so.called opponents OF the
coal industry-so-called by men
connected with that industry. One
We the leading a1d aggressive ones
ls Representative Walter II. New
hon OF Minnesota. He has gone so
4 Tar as to advocate government
oKnership OF coal mines. 1t will
5e recalled that he introduced the
original Calder bill in the House
3nl April II, last, but he was I'M