Evening star., 1922-04-03
PROBE WELCOME, LEWIS
TELLS HOUSE MEMBERS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

those who are actively engaged in
the practical operation of the mines.
The United Mine Workers regret
more ttan any one else the necessity
for suspension of work by the union
coal miners of the country. We have
done everything humanity possible to
avoid the suspension. For months
past We have fought hard to induce
the bituminous coal operators to keep
faith with US and with the govern
ment and meet US in joint confer
ence, SO that a new wage and work.
ing agreement might be made that
would maintain industrial peace and
prevent public inconvenience.
Signed Two-Year Agreement.
In joint conference held in the
city of New York on the 31st of
March. 1920. a two-year agreement
was signed covering wages and work
ing conditions in the mining industry
for that period. In this basic agree
ment appears the following pro-
visions:
Resolved. That an interstate joint
conference be held prior to April /,
1929; the time and place of holding
such meeting is referred to a commit
tee of two operators and two miners
from each state herein represented.
together with the International Off
GERS OF the United Mine Workers Or
ganization.'
This arrangement was part of
the agreement. equally as binding as
any other provision. and was duly eX-
ecuted III writing through the at
tachment Of the signatures of the op
orators and mine workers represent
atives. 1t was Il pledge morally as
binding as any bond or promissory
note ever executed in Il business
transaction. The mine workers of
the country believed that the coal OPP
orators signed the agreement in good
faith, but we now find that they con-
tumaciously refuse to live up to their
agreement. They have refused point
blank to do as they agreed they
would do. If they were to refuse to
liauidate their financial obligations it
would be no more diShonorable than
their refusal to keep their solemn
agreement with the mine workers.
On two occasions since the month of
December. 1921, the operators have
been formally invited by the mine
workers representatives to meet in
joint conference at designated time
and place for the purpose indicated in
the agreement. On each occasion our
invitation has been refused and our
efforts have been in vain. In 81
suming this attitude the operators do
breakers. MIR. p. II. Pena of Indiana.
who for nearly two decades has been
the Chief spokesman for the coal op-
orators of the central competitive
field, in recent public interview
said:
Admits Violation of Contract.
"I cannot deny that our refusal
to meet is a violation of our agree
ment'
I'm the face of such brazen and
uncompromising attitude on the part
OF the coal operators. the mine work
ers had no alternative but to quit
their work when the agreement ex-
pired and await the making of an
other agreement. fixing their sched-
ules of wages and governing their
conditions of employment. 1t is
recognized by all thoughtful men that
IN the end an agreement must be eff
fected through the accredited repre-
sentatives of the organized mine
workers. OF the country, and it is par
tlcuiarly unfortunate that hundreds
OF thousands of men must be with
drawn from industry to the detriment
or the social and economic we'll being
of our country before a joint confer
ence can be held and an agreement
this condition must rest clearly upon
the shoulders of the coal operators,
who have fagrantly and arrogantiy
refused to carry out their obligations
and meet the mine workers in joint
conference. Their attitude should
rightfully bring down upon them the
moral castigation of an Outraged
citizenship. The public: can follow its
own reasoning in defining the mo-
tiVes of the operators. Whether it be
their mere sordid desire to further
enrich their own teeming Golfers or
whether 1t be their futile hope to de-
stroy the United Mine Workers of
America and beat the miners back
ward, 1t is equally reprehensible.
Despite the failure of our previous
attempts to secure a meeting with the
coal operators for the purpose of ne
gotiatinS new agreement. the mine
workers are still ready to meet at
any time such a meeting is possible" :"
Intermittent Work nn Issue.
Mr. Lewis said that intermittent
employment in coal mines stood out
as the great problem for miners
THE coal miner knows that the
best he can get is 215 days of work
a year." he declared. land that he
has got to get enough money in those
days to support his family for $50
days. This means likewise greater
costs for consumers in overhead
wastes of part-time operation.
1T has another effect bad upon the
miner. as generation after genera
tion gets accustomed to these casual
working conditions. The stabilization
of this industry is something that
must be brought about eventually,
and if private industry cannot ham
die the task it is likely that the pub
lie will be forced to step forward and
shoulder the tasks of stabilizing pro-
duction and demand, difficult and haz-
ardous as the policy may be.
Personally 1 think that Congress
could well set up a government bu-
reau, armed with power to regulate
and control the industry. and that
some benefits would result from it.
Labor has been securing a smaller
share of the value of coal in recent
years than formerly" Mr.. Lewis as
serted. after analyzing some price
statistics. Capital has been securing
greater share. Mine owners got
used to big margins during the war.
and in addition there is horde of
wholesalers, commission men and
brokers living off the margins in the
industry.
operators claim the price of coal
is too high and that wages should
come down. The fact is, no possible e
fall in coal prices which the con-
sumner could feel.
"At most, the cut wages would give
a reduction of "a per cent in the re-
tail price of coal, providing that none
of the money sticks to the greedy
hands Of middlemen.
1--WE can show that stabiliZing the
industry. stopping the wastes, would
allow a drop of 81 per cent in bitumi-
! nous coal prices"