Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-08-22
HARDING TO CONGRESS
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be representatives of the operators
/ representatives Of the mine work kars
and outstanding, disintercsted and able
|rcpresentatiycs Of the American public.
! The commission was to be instructed
! to direct it's first inquiry to the rate
Of wage to be paid for the period end
| ing next April, and then to enter
upon fact finding inquiry ine5 every
phase of the industry and point the
! way to avoid future suspensions IN
production. The disputants all endors-
ed the suggestion Of a fact-indinG
commission. The. anthracite. operators
promptly accepted the entire proposal
The mine workers refused to resume
work under the arbitration plan. The
majority OF the bituminous operators
filed an acceptance, but n considerable
minority declined the proposal.
Under these circumstances having
no authority to demand compliance,
the government had no other course
than to invite resumption Of produc-
tion under the rights Of all parties to
tile controversy, with, assurance OF
government protection of each and
every one in his LAWFUL pursuits. This
fact was communicated to the gov
ernors Of all coal producing states and
: with two exception assurances Of
maintained law and order worc
promptly given. In some instances
concrete proof of effective readiness to
protect all men, strikers and nom
striking workmen alike was promptly
given. But little or no new produc-
ton followed. The simple but signi-
fcant truth was revealed that, except
for such coal as comes from the dis
tricts worked by nom organized min
ers, the country is at the mercy Of
the United Mine Workers.
Governors in various states report
that their operators and miners had no
dispute and were eager to resume pro-
duction. District leaders informed me
that their workmen were anxious to re-
turn to their jobs but that they were
not permitted to do so. Hundreds OF
wives Of workmen have addressed the
White House, beseeching n settlement
alleging that they knew no grievance,
and there is an unending story Of ap-
peals for relief where necessity or suf-
fering were impelling, where a mere
expression of need ought to find ready
compliance.
Evils of Present System.
At every stage, the government has
been a just neutral regarding wage
scales and working contracts. There
are fundamental evils in our present
system Of producing and distribution
which make the wage problem difficult
In the bituminous coal fields are vastly
more mine workers than are requisite to
the country's needs and there are 2OO,-
900 more mine workers than gre need
cd to produce in continuous employ
ment the country's normal supply. By
continuous employment, | mean ap-
proximately $50 working days in the
year In many instances last year men
were employed less than $50 days, in
some cases much fewer than that. In
the over manned sections men divide
the working time, and high wages are
necessary to meet the cost Of the bare st
living. Interrupted transportation
sorcly broken employment, the failure
to develop storage against enlarged de-
mands and inadequate carrying all
these present problems bearing on
righteous wage adjustment and
demand constructive solution.
Because of these things, because Of
the impressions Of many cases of un-
! justifiable profits in the industry ard
because public interest demands inves-
tigation and demands the finding Of
facts be given to the public l am ask
ing at your hands the authority to
create a commission to make search
ing investigation into the whole coal