The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-01
THE PEOPLE MUST PAY.


Victor Lawson, in his Chicago Daily
News, tells the people gently, but firmly.
that they are the goats" and that the
people lost the coal strike: Here's what
be ssys:. IL. -. - /. u, .,,,;no;a emo,
lOn6rators' association estimates that the
coal strike has cost the residents Of this
state upward 81 $100, O00, 900. He figures
the loss In wages to the striking miners at
$50,3lo,0o0; the loss to the mining conf
pa.iiAs through the ldeness of their prop
arty at ,aa5, GOO, 900, and the loss to the
Iudblic-threugh: higher prices and freight
rates On coal that should have been mined
In Illinois but was hauled in from other
statesat SEQ, 100000.
tNo eafeful estimate has been presented
of the cost Of the strike to the entire ma
ton, but guesses by goal producers range
from $500, 100000 upward. =
AG6ns,1mers must bear in mind, how
ever, that the strike loss actually is all
thsiss. For the miners, BY the steady work
which they are now assured during the
fall and winter will make up for the wages
they might have earned by brokentime en-
pfoyment through the spring and summer,
while the mine operators will sell coal at
higher prices and in full quantities through
Intensive effort at the mines: Meanwhile,
higher prices of coal to consumers and the
increased cost of manufactured articles,
into which are figured the higher prices of
lie manufacturers fuel, will make the pub
lie the actual sufferers. As DIR. Honnoad
says, it is the people Of this country who
lost the strike. ii g
similar strike losses by the public in the,
future can and must be prevented. The
price of coal to the consumer can be re-
diced to a reasonable level If the recent
proposals of President Harding to congress
tre carried out. His fact-fnding commits
zion should be authorized by congress
without delay. Its members should be men
capable of outlining such a thorough" reor-
Ranization as the coal industry must undef-
10 if the public is ever again to be treated
fairly in the matter of fuel supplies and
prices. The high-cost mines opened up
during the war should be closed; the SD
perfuous miners should be established adj
Vantageously in other industries; labor
saving, cost-reducing machinery should be
introduced in all mines where it is possible
sdvantag eously to employe such machm-
cry, and open competition should be re-
stored in the coal markets. .'
"When those changes are effected and
not before can there be freedom from
strikes, reasonable profits for coal pro-
miners and an assurance. OF plenty OF fuel
al honest prices for the public. It is esti-
mated: that from 40 to so per cent OF the
striking miners were employed on farms or
iii other useful service while the strike last
ia. Now that scarcity Of labor in various
industries is reported it is reasonable to
Think that the great surplus of mine work.
ers that already exists and the further
treat Arplus that would be created by the
Economical mining of coal by machinery
readily would be absorbed in the general
industrial activity of the country. With
these notable reductions 4 in expense the
price sof coal would materially decrease;
though consumption would increase .be~s
cause Of the resulting stimulation to indus
Failure TO bring about these benefits
through appropriate governmental action
Inevitably would DE followed on April. l
next by another stubborn coal strike. The
vicious circle must be broken. The exist
ing conditions in the 'coal-mining industry
are intolerahle and must be remedied."
h ...E
800 WHOSE BUSINESS IS 1T?
It may occur to some-in fact it has from
I, hoo hot 10 tho h11oiy nf