Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-18
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MINES.

1t has long been the hope Of certain Of the
in the mine unions that the government
might take over the. coal mines and operate them,
and, there have been repetts, apparently authentic,
that these leaders became active in the strike move
ment for the deliberate purpose Of creating condi-
tions which would result in the seizure and perrnAn-
ent retention Of the mines. The probability that
the government Will do this as a permanent policy
IS remote. but there have been such startling
changes in the industrial situation in recent years
that the possibility cannot be ignored. %~s
The conditions Which have prevailed in the coal
industry in recent years have contributed largely to
the growth of sentiment in favor Of various forms Of
government intervention, including cofnpletelowner-
ship and operation. The industry has been marked
by almost continuous warfare between employers
and employees. One great strike was ended BY the
tfreat Of President Roosevelt to march all army into
the coal fields and take possession Of them, and
since then there have been local strikes which were
attended by conditions Of civil war which in some
cases called for the use Of troops for the restoration
of order.
So far as the pub1ie is concerned, the coal situa-
ton has gone from bad to worse. Each year .thers
arises the problem ST whether or not coal will be
available for the operation Of the %country's industries
and the heating Of its hpn,es. The complications
each year have been at least partially Strengthened
olt in time to avert complete disaster, but the price
which the public has been compelled to pay for it's
coal has advanced year by year III a MANNER and to
q uSSlGc lhtolel AUG anu. as WOSt people DcllcVc, Ut
terly inexcusablc. r.
Coal must be mined, so long as it is there to be
mined, and it must be delivered. The two 20 to-
gether. And it is mafifestly the duty Of the gov
eminent to provide such regulations and issue such
orders as will insure the performance of this vital
work. In the present emergency government in
tervention in a very drastic way is called for. Gov
eminent operation permanently is a different matter
and a thing to be avoided unless the people in the
industry, employers. and employees alike, render it
inevitable.
The desire of the radical union men for govern
nnent operation, is based OH the belief that if the gov
erninent assumes permanent charge of the mines it
will be possible fot the active %agitatofs to WELD a
Still more powerful influence thar they now possess
by bringing political pressure to bear in regulating
the conditions surrounding the industry. That this
belief is warranted we have the evidence Of public
ownership enterprises generally as a guide. TIE
rule in such cases is that the business is run BY poll
ticians for political advantage. with the inevitable
loss in efficiency and cost Of service to the public.
Where are the politicians in the coal states who,
if the mines were operated by the government,
would stand squarelv for efficient work by the en-
p1oyes. for COMPENSATION based on performance, for
economy in management, and for prices for the pro-
duct which would make the business properly self
sustaining?
Congress would be confronted with demands
from the miners for more wages, and from consun,-
ers for lower prices. 1t might yield in both direc-
lions, and in that case enhanced wages and losses
from too low prices would be balanced by deficiency
appropriations amounting to incalculable sums,
which the whole people would have to paw.