The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-20

|On w edneSday visited large mine operated by nonunion miners exclu- clusively. Thursday was spent at a large mine operating union miners ex- clusively. We made oe.reful investiga- tion regarding the welfare and living conditions in the several camps. In some cases found conditions ideal, in others not so good. but in each camp the miners expressed themselves as be- ing satisfied with the living conditions and the wage scale. All mines are now operating under the award by the United States bituminous coal commis- sion.
 ONLY SMALL COMPLAINTS
 There Is only a minor complaint as to the day wages paid in Alabama. as compared to the coal fields in other states. Due to economic conditions now existing, we do not recommend any change in the day wage scale at this time. The wares in the severaI commissaries were examined carefully, and in some instances tested.
 The prices in some cases were found prevailing in Birmingham. In the largest type operations we found that homes rented at $1.75 per room per month. with gardens, the companies furnishing light and running water free, with adequate schoolhouses and churches-nine months schools-which would compare most favorably with public schools and churches in the cities. In other camps, where light and runing water was not furnished. the rental was s1.50 per room.
 With expressions of satisfaction by the miners in every camp visited, we then made inquiry as to the contentious between the United Mine Workers of America and the Alabama coal opera tors.
 STUPENDOUS STRUGGLE
 The Alabama coal strike Of
 1920-1921 was the most stupendous
 struggle between organized labor
 and organized industry that Ala
 bama has ever known. No reliable
 estimate could be made as to the
 financial cost of this great strug-
 gle; both sides spent millions of
 dollars in seeking to win an in-
 dustrial war, over an issue more
 fundamental than was indicated by
 the mere statement that 1t was "a
 fight over recognition of the union
 On both sides this struggle was
 amply financed, bitterly fought,
 and conducted with ability and re-
 sourcefuiness. The public suf-
 fered heavily, and would suffer
 again In equal measure at any re-
 currence of this industrial war.
 We are convinced, after nearly two weeks of Investigation, study of rec ords and personal conferences, that an indecisive and compromise verdict recommended by us and approved by you would be unfortunate for both sides in the controversy, unjust to the public and would jeopardize the i'm mediate future of the industrial peace of the Alabama coal mining district. We are persuaded that vou will receive sympathetically our suggestion that the final verdict be complete and con- elusive.
 EARLY STAGES
 "The members of the United Mine Workers of America in the Alabama coal fields struck first on May at few of the smaller domestic coal mines in an attempt to compel recogni- tion by the operators of their organiza- ton. The union miners at other mines struck, some in the summer and others in the general strike ordered Septem- Der 7-all demanding the recognition of the United Mine Workers of Amer ica. In this course they exercised an undeniable right. The operators of the mines, with that equal right, declared their refusal to recognize the& United Mine Workers of America. The strike is now ended. The members of the United Mine Workers of America failed to impose their will upon the Alabama operators.
 Your Excellency declared in a statement made public February 8, 1921. the operators claim that more coal is now being produced than was produced before the strike was called; that the production is above normal; that the supply of mine labor is in excess of the demand for it, and that the places of the striking miners have been taken by other miners whom the operators refuse to discharge to make room for the strikers In that same statement, publicly made, before the correspondence with MT. Hanson was laid before you, you declared further: Tn my opinion the strike is practically at an end and would be absolutely at an end if the labor leaders would but recognize the fact and declare it of ficially."
 GOVERNOR CORRECT
 "Our investigations in the strike
 zone proved the truth and accuracy
 of your conclusions. The mines are
 producing more coal than the mar
 ket can absorb, and the operators
 find it necessary, as the spring
 and summer season approaches, to
 shut down the mines from two to
 four days a week in order that
 they may not be embarrassed by
 an over-supply of coal for les
 sening market.
 "The fundamental issue of the strike was framed in the first communica- tions of the representatives of the or ganized miners to the operators in their representation of employment contracts in May and in subsequent correspondence. Although there were minor controversies which will be, dis cussed in this report in their proper place, this question remained the dominant issue until the end of the strike. It was so described by the commission sent by your excellency to the coal fields at the beginning of the strike. so pronounced by your ex- cellency in your several public de- clarations on the strike, admitted and accepted always as dominant by the contending factions.
 MILLIONS OF TREASURE
 The issue. on the adjudication of which millions of treasure were ex- pended, was of profound importance because recognition meant the union ization of the mines; ', meant that in all mines, only union men could be employed and that all grievances would be adjudicated and working conditions laid down by representa- tives of the United Mine Workers of America, with the working forces of the mines behind them in conference with the operators of the mines. It meant in the beginning of the strike the closed shop even as the non union mine represents a shop closed to the union.