The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-11

ALtc HoTh6fS anu coal operators,
which threatened to result in a ma
tion-wide strike April 1. is of vital
importance to the American people,
and in order that its readers may
understand the issues involved,
both sides of the controversy are
presented below: George Cushing,
former editor of the Black Diamond
trade journal of the operators, pub
lished in Chicago, in an article
published in Coal Age, warns the
public to prepare for six weeks
coal strike and predicts panic coal
prices. The article follows:
At their monthly dinner, George
Gushing told the purchasing agents
of Detroit that they should buy
enough coal to last during strike
OF at least six weeks after April
1. They also were warned to get
under contract for two or three
years because panic prices are COM
ing again as soon as business tries
to become normal.
Strike Inevitable.
His view is that the impending
strike is inevitable because the bur
dens of unionism have become in
tolerable. He prophesies a return
of panic coal prices-"192o all over
Iagain"-because the railways can't
carry the coal and can't be improv-
ed in time to avoid initiation. 1.-THE
railways are dead-killed by regu-
lation," is the way he put it.
Describing the progress of the
union toward the point where it in
vites war from the operators, Mr..
Gushing named these successive
steps:
Ito make wages uniform at ad-
joining mines, and hence to make
competition equal, the operators
years ago-encouraged the forma-
ton of a union.
2-To strengthen the union, the
operators-years ago - conceded
the closed shop and undertook to
collect the unions dues from the
lminers-granted the check-off.
3-The miners used the check-off
to raise funds in one union field
with which to fight a wage battle
in another union field.
4-Wishing to perpetuate their
monopoly of labor within a state,
the IMMERSION the plea that it
would save precious lives-persuad-
ed several state legislatures to pass
a law saying that no man may work
as a miner unless he has a certifi-
cate. The law provides that these
,, certificates must be issued by union
men only.
5-Having a monopoly of labor
granted by contract and reinforced
by law, the miners knew that no
strike breakers could be employed
: Therefore they now strike periodi-
: cally to enforce their demands.
= 6-By demanding periodically
: increases in pay and getting them
/ through strikes, the miners boast
} openly THAT they will cause owner
], ship of mines to become unattrac-
t tive to capital. At that time the
5 mines will be turned over to the
2 miners, who will work them on a
= cooperative basis.
They seek national agreements
because by striking the whole coun-
, try on one day the demands will be
granted more quickly
S-They seek naturalization be-
cause: 1--WE can get an increase of
Is cents a ton from a fuel admin
, istration in Is minutes, whereas we
have to fight the operators three
weeks to get 8 cents a tom
! you and 1 know that there are
/ issues to be decided which make
strike inevitable" Mr.. Cushing
said Therefore you men will soon
see-unless someone performs a
miracle or make a monumental
blunder-300,0 1000 miners throw
down their tools until a new wage
contract is signed"
Railroads Are Dead.
Concluding, Mr.. Gushing said:
Il mention these things because
want you to know that We
speaking of official America-have
decided that the railroads are hope
lessly ruined by regulation. II
choice must be made-and- the day
of choosing is not far distant-we
will allow the country to drift into
the economic doldrums before We
will admit that, politically, we made
any mistakes by carrying regula-
: ton too far.
Applying all of this to your case
1 mean to say: The railroads are
dead beyond hope of immediate re-
covery. They are worse off now
+ than they were two years ago, be-
!, cause they have not been main
tanned Beginning at once, the
/, business of the country-the ton
|, nage-will begin rapidly. to grow
In a very few months, it will have
, caught up with what it was in 1920
j 1t will start toward what it should
, have been in 1921. 1t will try tC
, catch up with its own actuarial
prospects in 1925. Midway in thai
improvement the growth of the ma
tons business will stop because
, the railways will not be available
to move what we can produce and
sell.
What that is going to mean tC
your business and ours seems per
: ffectly obvious. Your factories were
rebuilt in major part out of wal
profits. They were extended Oul
coal mines were multiplied and
, improved out of war profits. These
I business units are available and
will want to work. The buying
; power of the people will be set fo'
an increase in tonnage, leaving, as
customary, a recovery in price tC
| follow moro leisurely.
Then, the railroad blockade will
? stop midway the growth of tonnage
, You and I know what will happen
/ When we stop tonnage growth
: without satisfying the demand
3 prices will begin to rise as buyers