The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-05
RESERVE STOCK
OF COAL
Secretary of Labor Says There
is Two Months Supply
ON Hand

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stating that a general strike in
unionized bituminous coal mines is
to begin Saturday, Secretary of
Labor Davis declared in state
ment tonight that the situation
leaves mo excuse for advance in
coal prices" and no prospect of
coal shortage for ths public.
Reviewing the governments ef-
forts during the last two months to
achieve a settlement in advance.
AIr. Davis expressed <keen disap-
peintment at the failure of certain
operators to fulfill the teens of
their obligation" to confer with
miners for the making Of new wage
agreements which might have pre-
vented suspension Of work.
'All the governments efforts in
the proffer Of mediation, concilia-
alton and compromise he said,
"have failed to save the country
from the national strike test Of
economic strength between en-
ployer and employee in the coal
industry. In this effort the pres
ident and myself have had neither
legal right nor personal desire to
dictate any program Our one de-
sire has been TO induce by persua-
sion and urgence the operators and
miners to discharge the obligation
they assumed themselves to confer
again for the shaping Of a new
agreement.
The miners. the secretary said.
had always been willing to confer
through their union representa-
tiyes, but the operators, although
for differently assigned reasons in
the several localities. had turned
their backs on a chance to lay bare,
not only to the miners. but to the
public, at least their reasons for
declining a new wage agreement" !"
a conference for the operators, he
added, would have removed any
stigma of bad faith
There may be faults on both
sides OF this bitumineus dispute, y
he declared, "but the side that
openly repudiates its written and
signed obligations has crippled it's
case before the bar Of public opin-
ion.
Tn. agreement repudiated, the
statement explained, was that con-
tanned in the wage contract be-
tween operators and miners in the
cen.ral competitive field, including
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania, which has constitut-
ed the basic wage contract for all
other coal fields IN former years.
The situation as to anthracite min
ing. it was added, "forms pleas
ing contrast because operators and
miners are meeting directly togeth-
err
Further complications ii. the coal
industry, Mr.. Davis continued, were
due to the existence of overproduc-
ton, amounting to fully 80 per
cent. over development in the bit
luminous fields" One result OF
this, It was pointed out. was to
leave available in storage now
stocks Of coal estimated at 10000
600 tons for anthracite and Co.
090.eD0 tons for bituminous.
This means that railroads, pub
lie utilities. manufacturing indus
tries and retail dealers will have on
hand Saturday nearly two months
supply" Mr. Davis concluded. ''The
operators state that production
from nonunion mines will meet at
least 80 per cent. of the normal
needs of the country As to the
strike in the biturEinous industry.
the industry is squarely on trial
before the public. AT this stage
1T is simply an economic matter in
which the chief sufferers will be
the miners and the operators them
selves. The administration will
watch the developments and be
ready to safeguard the public vel
fare whenever it is menaced."
Any rise in prices. he said.
should be reported to Washing
ton at once for action by the at
torney general