The Washington times., 1922-06-22
Mine owners
SEEK HARVEST,
ASSERTS GREEN
Public Win Learn Why Opera
tors Are obdurate When
Winter Comes, He Says.

tors Are Obdurate When
Winter Comes, He Says.
Witk the menace of a railroad
strike looming, and the mtners
strike against broken agreement
eontfnuistg soithont signs Of al
break up, the follosoi1,g article by
a Leading miners official, ioho
asserts the coal operators tViH reap
harvest Of dollars this fol- and
toieter, is of interest. The Anteri-
can Federation of Labor, In convent
tion at Cincinnati, has tndorsed
the miners strike.
by WILLIAM GREEN.
Secretary Treasurer United Mine Workers
Of America.
tcopyrisht. 1919; by Cosmopolitan News
Service.) .."
CINCINNATI. Ohio. June a.
For eleven weeks the coal miners OF
America have been idle: all this
time they have been waiting for the
coal operators Of the central COM
petitive field to redeem their promise
and carry out the agreement which
they entered into.
This agreement provided they
would meet with the representatives
Of the United Mine Workers of
gotiating a new contract to take
effect April I, 1922.
This enforced idleness has caused
much suffering among the miners
and their families. 1t is apparent
in. some sestions more than others.
The suffering II most intense
where coal operators have evicted
miners in an effort to drive the
miners back to work upon the
operators terms. Heroic sacrifices
are being made by miners and their
families in an effort to compel coal
operators to keep an agreement.
Along with this suffering Of the
miners must Inevitably come great
inconvenience to the American public
and perhaps suffering as well. IL
this coal strike Is to continue the coal
supply win be wholly Inadequate to
meet demands when fall and winter
comes. When frost comes and peo-
pie ask for coal and cannot get II ut
any price, a full understanding OF
the coal operators present unreason.
able and indefensible position will be
had. Why the representatives of tho
Government and the public as well.
cannot foresee this impending situa-
ton is incomprehensible indeed.
Workers Would Confer.
In the meantime 1t seems that the
strike must 60 on. Evedintly the coal
operators can treat q signed agree
ment as a mere scrap of paper. The
suffering of the miners and the
threatened suffering of the general
public seems TO be of little conse-
quence. The question is how long will
the general public tolerate such a
menacing situation.
The mine workers are ready and
willing to meet with the coal opera
tors in an interstate conference at
any time. They contend only for the
recognition Of a principle. They in
sist that a signed agreement carries
with it an obligation which must be
fully discharged.
The conscience Of the public and
the moral forces of the nation must
support the miners In this position.
1t is said in some quarters that
the coal operators are relying upon
the power OF might and their
surplus earnings made during the
war, when profiteering was prac-
ticed, to win for them decisive vic
tory over the miners. 1t II to be
hoped that such In not the case:
A policy Of that kind is unjust and
reprehensible. 1t would shock the
moral sense of thinking people and
ultimately bring ruin to the in
dustry.
Morale Unbroken.
After most three months of strug.
gle and sacrifice, the morale and
spirit Of the miners remains un-
broken. They seem determined, as
stated by q famous general in the
civil war, ito fight 1t out on this
lire IL Il takes all SUMNER" Such
situation in a great basic industry Is
q reflection upon the existing social
order and our boasted civilization.
1t is earnestly hoped that before the
present struggle goes too far, reason,
common sense ard good Judgment
will SO influence the minds and &C:
tions of the coal operators Of the
country as to brig about a confer
ence and a settlement that will be
fair and just to all concerned.