The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-07-23
Shall the Government Mine Coal?

Editor The star: The announce
unent from Mr.. Hoover. OF the do
partnrnt Of commerce. that II wit
BE- . good time OF year 10 buy coal,
coming AZ the safne time as the an
nounc~d refusal Of miners In ous
own state 10 accept the 20 per cent
cut In wages. makes interesting Rad
ing Of the following extract from the
Alaska coal lands ioazns law. this
title TO which IL a. follows: An act
10 provide for the leasing Of cnzL
lands In the territory Of Alaska. and
for other purposeA'
-sec q. That the rr~sident o. shs
United states shall dcnxnass and 70
serve from usA io<afion. sale. lease
or disposition not excee<iinE s.i2o
acres 81 coal bearing land In the Der
Ing river Geld and not exceedins
1880 acres Of ccai.bcarinE land In the
Maia nnska fleid. and not to exceed
one half Of the other coal lands In
Aia.S<n: Provkicd. that the coal do
poxits In Such rvsesv~d srwas may be
mhvr3 un<Arr the dtrs~tion Of the
prv~kisul when. In his opinion. ths
mining os such coal In such rvecvv-d
arona. undcr the DIRECTION Of the prs
sdrnt, becomes necessary by reason
a. an iSsufficicut sugEay Of coal ~ q
reasonable prire for the requirements
a royerumeuf works. construction
ard oprraiIon Of government rail-
roads. Tor tisc navy. for national pro
lection or Tor relief from monopoly
or Oppressive condi ions."
II n rood To reflect that out OF
eight wears OF democratic rule. We
have this one law OF real conserva'
ton. ana which. II enforced with
courage and promptncss. would give
relief from monopoly and oppres-
sive conditions"
one of the conditions. m respects
the uses OF tho government. wns
found by the Calder committee inves'
tlFatlng coal shortage and conditions
generally. when II developed that the
war department. being In need oil
large quantities.. was obliged 10 seek
the aid OF one OF the large operators
who secured the coal from another
operator, at the very highest prices
and charged the war department
therefor ,ss 900 as n commission
II surely win not require any proof
TO the householder In any part OF the
United States that by reason OF higt
prices caused by strikes and prohibi
tive freight rates, conditions are ~op
presslve.~
In reading the proceedings OF uhs
state Federation OF Labor just re
Gently. my attention was attracted
by the following tub TO the autocrat
Ic whale. In substance: I'VE favor
such amendment to the law provld
ing for the calling Of constitutions
convention that win require only .
majority OF electors voting. Instead
OF majority Of the electors OF thu
state"
This plainly Il following IN thu
footsteps Of Gompcrs who an
nounccd last summer that he would
support no man for congress wht
was not known to be loyal TO labor
and shows a willingness TO form mr.
alliance with our friend the enemy
antocracy In any form or under ans
banner. The fact that such amend
ment is unnecessary testifics TO th'
ingenuity OF the platform worker
With all THE work for constitution
al convection. no man can point to q
single definite attack upon the con
stitution.
The undersigned. In a plainly writ
ten communication to the big papers
OF the state--two or three OF them
at least--aslted them TO say In wha
respect amendment was needed. bu
no reply was deigned. II Is appar