Evening star., 1922-11-03
LAID
TO COAL BARONS
BY the Associated Press.


JoHNSTOWN. Pa, November e
Municipal ownership of the New York
subway system was predicted today
by David Hirshfield. chairman Of the
New York city committee investiga-
ton conditions in the Berwind- White
coal mines. in formally announcing
that the committees investigation
New York city officials by striking
miners of the Berwind-White Com
pany.
Coal should not be purchased from
operators who do not give their
miners fair living and square
mittee. which completed its heGrings
yesterday, left for New York.
The operators side of the con-
trove-sy has not been told. Several
efforts were made to have the Ber-
wind White officials attend commit
tee hearings. but the company re-
fused to participate in any meeting
where representatives of the United
Mine Workers were present.
Owner Responsible.
Commissioner Hirshfield's statement
paid considerable attention to the
campaign of Alfred E. Smith, demo-
cratic candidate for governor of New
York. but he took occasion to hold
E. j. Berwind responsible for condi-
tions which the committee declared
exist in the open-shop mines of the
Berwind- White interests. TIE state
ment follows:
"The committee appointed by Mayor
John F. Hylan of New York city to
investigate conditions in the coal dis
tricts of central southwestern Penn
sylvania, a zone controlled by the
Deriving White Company. has dis
closed many amazing facts.
The district in question, Somer-
set county. is controlled bodily and
politically by a coal corporation OF
which Z. ]. Berwind is the moving
power The same E. J. Rerwind is
chairman of the board Of directors of
the Interboro Rapid Transit Company
of New York city and is a director
of the Pennsylvania system, which
hauls the coal from the mines.
1000 Used Bodies and Souls.
THE great Berwind- White inter-
ests seem to have used some i,00e
mems bodies and souls to build up
for themselves an industrial autoc-
Of hardships endured by the miners
and their families since April 6. when
the men no longer would endure
the sting of the corporation lash.
I'VE have seen in the tents. in the
hencoop and in the stables where
the miners and their families sought
shelter after having been summarlly
evicted from their homes by the coal
and iron police, hungry babies and
women whose feet were bare and
bleeding and whose limbs were thin
ly clad.
SCORES of these persons. poverty
stricken and unable to go through
u-En
given them. poured out such tales OF
SUFFERING and mistreatment AS would
melt any heart except that in the
stony bosom of q coal baron.
Men Work CroucAinE.
yesterday, we went into a coal
mine. We saw how the men have to
or lying in cramp-
ed quarters We were told this was
one of the best mines from a stand
point Of comfort
"Mayor Hylan's committee came to
the coal district with open minds.
From the very moment we reached
the stronghold of the Berwind-White
Company we were accorded no
courtesies by that corporation. In
deed. insults were given US at every
possible turn. Agents Of the corpora
tion spied on us. Their local Off
Gals, invited to attend the hearings.
refused, but said they would meet
the committee privately in their
Offices What were they hiding?"
The closing paragraphs of the
statement related to the candidacy
Of Alfred E. Smith for governor.
when the time comes. and it will
soon come, the city of New York will
never buy one lump OF coal from any
company where the workingman's
life. his interests and his right to
liberty are not taken care Of" was
the closing paragraph.