The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-11-18

forcing the law. incidentally barber
schools in Seattle, Tacoma and Spy-
kane have agreed not to graduate
students until they procure a state IL
cense. There also has been much
electrical work done by unlicensed
persons. AS rule those engaged in
licensed professions are obevinp the
law, it is said.
State and Coal Strike.
Though the Department of Labor and
Industries hopes an early end to the
controversy in the coal mining regions
of this state may come, Director Ed
ward Clifford probably will have to
! await more favorable time for
again offering his services an in inter-
mediary. The Department is watch
ing the situation closely, however.
There seemed, a short tine ago. a
reasonably good ground for believing
the miners local unions in the com
mercial zone would recognize the adj
visibility of accepting the Airport
wage award, which was unsatisfac-
tory to both miners and operators,
and would bring about convention
composed solely of miners from the
commercial fields to approve it. Then
word came from the national head
quarters that this step vas disap-
proved and the miners, mindful of the
fact that their strike benefits and
union status were at stake, decided
not to risk action. Interference from
headquarters stopped a referendum
vote on the award last summer, tho
President John L. Lewis had approx
ed of the appointment of commits
sion by Director Clifford to investi-
gate mining conditions in this state.
Washington may be the "goat" in
the coal mining industry. Robert H.
Harlin, from the small Washington
field, nearly defeated John J.. Lewis
for president of the United Mine
Workers and Harlir was a represen-
tative of the miners on the Airport
commission, which unanimously
agreed Washington commercial mines
had been producing coal at loss.
Neither he nor any miners or operat-
ors' representative united with James
H. Airport, the Pennsylvania mining
engineer, who was zee fifth member
of the commission, in his wage rec
concentrations, however. IT has been
developed that the plan outlined for
this state has been used in several
eastern and middle western states as
a basis of recognizing the industry
in districts where production IS heavy.
For strategic reasons, then the Mine
Workers may believe they can better
afford to support small number of
idle men in Washington rather than
allow this state to establish an I'M
welcome precedent. And if Harlin is
embarrassed at home, he might not be
interfering with Lewis elsewhere.
One can easily figure, too, that the
operators of the big fields might be
willing to let Washington try out
their issues.
All factions agreed in a report
made last summer to Director Clifford
that commercial coal mines for the
five months, May to September, 1920,
sold thier coal f. o. b. mines, at loss
of 15c per ton and for the five months
October, 1920, to February, 1921, at
loss of 26c per ton.
The operators, as is well known,
have reopened their collieries on an
open shop basis since the miners
failed to accept the Airport award.
The strike, though dscouraging to
the Department of Labor and Indus
tries, does not in any way lessen the
hope that Allport's plan for reorgan-
ization of methods of production,
handling and selling coal, will cut
prices so Washington coal can be sold
more cheaply to Washington consum-
ers, and that an annual payroll and
material bill of the mines amounting
to $20,000,000 will again be disbursed
here. Under most favorable circum-
stances half the coal burned in Wash
ington came from points outside the
state; oil took more than GOALS share
of the fuel market and wood equaled
coal. Director Clifford still is adher-
ing to his opinion that it is unthink-
able that Washington's coal resource
shall be undeveloped and unused
After Chinese Eggs.
The pure food division of the De
partment of Agriculture has COM
menced vigorous prosecution of Sc
attic and Tacoma dealers and bakers
who use Chinese eggs without dis
playing the sign required by law
Repeated warnings that the law