The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-24
UNION HEAD
DENOuNCES
OPERATORS
Calls Boost Legah1ed
Robbery; Denies Min
ers Approve. -

Springfield. ILL.,, Aug. A--By the
Associated Presa)-Coal mine
operators in central Illinois today
announced they had increased the
price of coal $1.25 ton. The raise
was followed by a protest from sub
district officials of the United Mine
Workers, who termed the increase
"legalized robbery" and declared
it called for a statement from the
mine workers.
Miners have returned to work
under the same wages and condi-
tions." Secretary John Watt Of the
sub-district said. There has been
small loss to either miners or
operators. Because Of the great
quantity Of coal stored, and the fact
that mines would have lain idle
whether or not there had been q
strike, the operators cannot with
good grace lay their increases In
prices to the losses they bore. It
is just plain profiteering.
Operators Haven't Suffered.
"Legalized robbery is not too
strong. The government has taken
no steps to stop it; passed no laws
for the purpose, SO in a way encour-
ages it. The operators are coming
back ON the public for losses they
have not suffered. There should
be some recourse but there isn't
This brazen increase calls for q
statement on the miners behalf. 1t
will create in the public mind the
belief that the operators and min
ers have been in cOllusion to raise
prices. l want to make emphatic
denial that the miners have in any
lway countenanced the raise. None
of the increase will come to the
miners. It will all stay in the
pockets of the operators"
4 Retailors sPass Buck"
Mines about Springfield advised
retail dealers today that the price
Of coal had been raised from 1915
to $500 a ton. Retailers announced
they had only passed the increase
on, raising the price Of coal deliv-
cred from $4.75 ton to $500.
Flags e. s. Fuel Heads.
Lansing, Mich, Aug. A.-(By the
Associated Press.)-Coal concerns
close to the federal fuel admins
tration are getting theirs and
getting it first" william W. Potter.
state fuel administrator, charged
in a statement today following his
return from Washington, where ne
endeavored to obtain greater al
lowance of priority Of coab for
Michigan.
Declaring that coal operators
comprise the advisory board Of the
federal fuel administration, MI
Potter asserted:
when a handful of men may
throttle the American public and
demand double fair price for coal
/ it is time this American public was
taking some action to change the
personnel or the activities OF the
federal government" -
Get No Priority Coal.
The state fuel administrator de-
clared that not a pound Of coal has
come into Michigan on a priority
order at the contract price.
Applications" he stated. go te
the advisory committee Of coal cp'
orators. II the priority ordeI
should, perchance, be handed t.
the coal operators having the con
tract, he would refuse to fill it, ant
pass it along to someone else hav
ing no contract relations, an,
thereby get the Hoover fair pric'
instead Of complying with his con
tract"
Il. Washington Denies.
/ Washington, Aug. A.-(By tn
Associated Press. )-Officials Of tn
; federal coal distribution COMMITTEES
replying today to criticism b.
Michigan state officials as to treat
ment accorded Michigan coal con
Sumers in allotment of coal sal
that more than twice as much Goa
had been authorized for shipmen
to that state as to any other stat,
i WALKER GETS NO. 81.
Philadelphia, Aug. 24.-Clarenc
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