The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-10-29

a. plan Tor the SOlullOn Ol TIE lluuS
put it up to government officials in s
be turned down.
= Big Business Is Blamed.
Different witnesses before the COM
mittee attributed all the bloodshed In
that state to the attitude of state Of
ficials because of their failure to en-
force the laws without fear Of favor.
The Steel Trust, J. P. Morgan &C. Co.,
the Pennsylvanit railroad and num-
ber of other financial powers We're
held equally to blame.
A definite plan for the settlement
of all miners troubles in the state was
presented by Philip Murray, vice
president of the United Mine Workers.
The plan involves the exercise by
the senate committee of mediatory Of
fices to secure agreement by the mine
operators and mine workers which
safeguard properly what are termed
the fundamental rights OF both miners
and operators and provides just and
reasonable basis for working relations
and conditions, this agreement to be
interpreted and applied by an admin
istrator to be named by the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
United States.
Plain Guarantees.
The safeguards which he said were
essential to regularity of production
and to peace were enumerated by Mr..
Murray as follows:
IT. The guarantee Of freedom Of
speech, freedom Of assembly, and fee
dom of movement.
''2. The right Of all workers to Or
ganize and bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing.
''3. The protection of mine workers
against discrimination because Of
mem bership in the United Mine Work
ers of America, or any !9ther labor or
other organization.
-. The protection Of unorganized
workers against intimidation or coer-
cion by members of the United Nine
Workers Of America or any other la
Dor organization.
For Plain Justice.
rs. The assurance that democratic
institutions will not be subordinated
to industrial control by the practice
of the coal operators in paying and
controlling deputy sheriffs and CON-
stables or by employing private guards
instead of using the services of dis
interested and conscientious public Of
ficers.
"6 The assurance to those mine
workers who were originally barred
~ ON employment because of member
ship in the United Mine~ Workers Of
America that they will be restored to
their former occupations or to ones
equally as good"
Mr.. Murray pledged the miners to
=, sign such an agreement and to abide
faithfully by it's terms, and he cited
as precedents for this method of deal
ing with the West Virginia controv-
ersy the action of President Roose-
welt in dealing with the anthracite
coal controversy in 1902 and the pro-
cedure Of the federal authorities in
settling labor difficulties in the pack
ing industry in 1917.
Mammon Is King.
In a detailed review and discussion
of the West Virginia industrial war
primarily to the influence of the United
States Steel Corporation and the penn
sylvania Railroad. and allied inter-
ests, which control a large part Of The
COdI ldIluS Ill Tie independent 1lelu.
He pointed to the agreements be-
tween miners and operators in other
fields as evidence of the beneficial ef-
fects of the mine workers organiza-
ton, declared that the union does oot
favor the appropriation Of private pro-
perty, asserted that unionization does
not decrease output, denounced as alb
surd the charge that the West Virgin
Ia miners and outside operators were
In collusion, and argued that the 1920
award and decision Of the Btu min
--y2us Coal Commission were binding
Mpon West Virginia independents as
we'll as unon, operators throughout
the rest of the country.
A Practical Plan.
In support Of his peace plan Mr.
Murray said, in part:
, This is a practical constructive
:priety in urging your Committee tc
highland the man welhrdlu hr din
n adopt, because of the human and pro.
perty rights involved. There are moro
fundamcntal remedies such as acrua
governmental ownership which NIGH
pc applied. These require, however
care1ul dellberation and most exhaus'
tive study before they can be applied
Dur suggestion on the contrary, will
Immediately relieve the situation. Il
Is reasonable, conservative, and it:
practtcableness has been: proved b,
precedent and experience. Fa
''The West Virginia operators have
memorialized the President of ,ht
United States, starting with. all EN-.
. aasis that they cannot and will no
meet the United Mine Workers O.
America in conference under AM
Il, conditions. This is in effect: tans.,lti
:, nlatium ito the governnl ent that lle
only settlem ent Of thAs cant troYersy t
which they will s.srce is one ,nlads
Continued on pa age two.l