Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-08-24
UNION LEADER SAYS
COAL ADVANCE IS
LOCALIZED ROBBERY
TERMS OPERATORS ATTITUDE
TOWARD PUBLIC REQUIRES Elk.
PLANTATIONS CLEARING UNIONS
or CLOUD IMPOSED BY BRAzEN
PROTECTING.

Springfield, H., Aug. 24,-Coal mine
operators In central Illinois today an
rounced they had increased the price
OF coal $l.25 ton. The raise was
followed by protest from Springfield
sub-oHtrIct OmcIa's OF the United
Mine Workers, who termed the In
crease 'legalized robbery" and declar-
ed 1t called for statement from the
mine workers.
Miners have returned to work
under the same wages and same CON
dtions' Secretary John Watt Of dig.
trict No 9 said There has beer
small loss to miers or operators. Be-
cause OF the great quantity Of coal
stored and the fact that mines would
have lain idle whether or not there
Rad been a strike. the operators can
not with good grace lay their increase
in prices to the losses they bear. 1t
is just plain profiteering.
"Legalized robbery Is not too strong.
The government has taken no steps to
stop It.; has pasaseG no laws for the
,burpose, and so In a way encourages
it. The operators are coming back on
the public tor losses they have nc.
suffered. There should be some re-.
course, bnt there isn't.
This brazcn increase calls for
settlement on the miners behalf II
viii create in the public mind the be-
lief that the operators and miners
have been in collision to-raise prices
want to make emphatic denial thai
the miners have in any way counte
nanced the raise. None Of the in
crease will come to the miners. II
win all stay in the pockets of the OPP
orators"
Mines about Springfield advised re-
tail dealers today that the price Of
coal had been raised from 1915 to SIS.
Retailers announced they had only
price of coal delivered from $40
to &c.
harrington Calls Convention.
Springfield, Aug. s4.-President
Frank Harrington OF the Illinois min
ers today announced that he had call
ed a state convention of the miners to
be held in Peoria commencing Sept
II. He also made official announce
ment of his candidacy for re-elec-
ton.
Authority to call an adjourned state
convention was give Mr.. Harrington
at the last convention in Peoria, |
Nov 8, 1921.
At that time the miners gave him
full power to make the call when
ever the proposed new two-year con-
tract with the operators was about
to be made AS the Cleveland meet
ing did not result in a new scale and
the miners have returned to work
under the old wages and old condi- |
lions, the state convention will have
a different purpose than was then in
tended
Its chief purpose, Mr.. harrington
said, will be to give the. delegates and
through them the rank and file, de-
tailed explanation of the Cleveland
and the Chicago agreements, about
which. he said, there is a widespread
Misunderstanding
Delegates, he said would be the
same as composed the November
convention.
Official announcement of his can
didacy for reelection as president, |
followed the announcement yesterday
by President Compson of Springfield
that he would oppose Mr. Earring
tons reelection.
Commenting on Mr. CompsOn's can
didacy, Mr.. Harrington said. There
are several other men in the state
who imagine they hear "a call to
service in that capacity. | will be
glad to have them enter the race.
1t will give spice to the contest and
clear the atmosphere and show the
aspirants they are mistaken"
Missouri Mines Start.
Kansas City, Aug. 24.--The clean
ing up of some 200 coal mines, idle
since April l, preparatory to resump-
tion of operations, got under way this
following the settlement here
lahoma and Arkansas coal fields.
Whistles at the mines blew this
following the settlement here
late today by scales committee of the
southwest interstate coal operators