The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-09-08
the shop crafts organization. It added

the ShOp crafts organization. IL adued
this:
1.-THE officials of these organizations
have done everything possible since
the beginning of the strike to maintain
a peaceful suspension Of work. Con-
sidering the difficulty Of preserving
perfect order in any group of 100000
men engaged In struggle for a decent
livelihood, 1t must be admitted that the
strike has been a remarkable demon
stration of the law-abiding character
of the workers involved"
This is not borne out by the facts.
So far as the public knows, the unions
have done little or nothing to check the
sabotage and murderous attacks per
petrated by the lawless elements in
their organizations. Reports Of dyna-
hitting of bridges and homes, of cow
acts of violence are SO numerous that
they can only be mentioned thus In
the aggregate.
For several days the train service
of the Chicago and Alton road was tied
up by strikes Of trainmen, and the
company sought escape from its diff
culties by going into the hands of a
receiver. It was predicted many other
roads might seek the same way out.
PREDICTIONS that the public would
1 have to pay for actual and imag-
mary losses due to. the coal strike are
already being fulfilled. The operators
and dealers. many Of whom must be
classed among the conscienceless prof
iteers, are raising prices Of fuel, de-
spite the efforts of public officials, the
threats of congressional action and the
protests Of the miners that the mine
owners have suffered little, If any, loss
because Of the stoppage of production.
In some sections of the country the
fuel shortage already is becoming
acute; In others there is plenty of
coal. The railroads, 1t is asserted. are
not able to supply enough cars, but
that is always the case as winter APP
proaches, which Is one of the results
of the wretched lack Of organization
of the coal industry.
The coal famine Is especially threat
ening in New York and the Atlantic
coast region generally, because the an
thracite strike has not yet been set
tied. But at this writing there is a
fair chance that the hard coal miners
will soon be back at work. Senators
Pepper and Reed Of Pennsylvania drew
up proposals for resumption of work.
and the plan was submitted to the op-
orators and the miners scale commit
tee at separate meetings.
a FTEk three days debate the house
\ passed the administrations emer-
gency fuel bill by vote of 214 to 81. 1t
gives the interstate commerce commits
sion power to control prices Of coal
by the use Of priorities and embar-
goes and also gives legal status to
the office of federal fuel distributor.
The act ceases to be In effect on Jan.
uary /, 1924, and the operation Of the
powers granted by 1t may be suspend
ed by the President whenever ne de-
termines the present emergency has
passed, and revived by him If a later
emergency arises. The senate re-
sumed consideration of the Borah coal
commission bill.
Z F. CRADLE, representing the
LIE brotherhood of Maintenance Of
Way Employees and Railroad Shop
Laborers, last week petitioned the rail-
way labor board Ito establish new
wage scale for railway workers and in
doing SO to recognize the principle of a
living wage" The board refused to
do this, the majority holding that a
Just and reasonable wage" as con-
ceived by the board, Is a living wage"
Thereupon Mr.. Cradle wired Chairman
Cummins of the senate interstate COM
merce committee, asking that the
transportation laws be so amended as
to insure railroad employees mini
mum ''living wage"
THE soldiers bonus bill was passed
1 by the senate Thursday by vote
of AZ to %. Twenty-seven senator's
were paired or absent. OF these 1t
is said 10 would have voted for the
measure. which would give total Of
81 for the bonus in case Of a veto
two short of the necessary two-thirds
vote to override adverse action by the
President.
Before passing the bill the senate on
Wednesday adopted two very important
amendments. The first, which was Of
fered by McNary of Oregon. Repub-
llcan. provides for the appropriation of
S350,0O0,O00 for the reclamation of arid
and swamp lands to provide farms for