The evening world., 1922-04-01

"li the coal industry Is not reor-
ganI2ed in the interest uT the public,
then 1t viii hc up to the pubic to try
the experiment OF public ownership"
said BorHh 81 do not underestimate
the task which the public win as
sumo when it undertakes this. but
doubt very much II the public viii
much longer submit to the present
method Of operating the mines
THE present strike is the symp-
tom. The disease Is the chaotic and
the shamclcssly wasterul method in
which the industry is now being car
ricd on. OF course, this chaos and
waste is unlonded onto the public in
eXorbitant prices.
The depreciation of idle mines, Idl"
ears, railroads and SO forth alone has
been estimated at $500, 900, 900 a year.
Either labor or the consuming public
must pay this, for a glance at the
profits disCoscs that the operators
take no part Of It,
"Tho coal miner Is IN sense an
expert workman. lie Connot very
well mine coal one month and worl,
in the wheat fields the next Even
if he could adjust himself to the sit
uHtion, the propiuquity OF the jobs
Is not at hand.
81 find IN the pIttsburph distriC
the average days worked by the
miners for 1921 was l23 and that the
average annual earnings were 1852
This situation is due to the method
undcr which the industry is carried
on.
"rhc reckoning in regard to this
coul Industry IS not alone b,twoen the
operators and miners, but between the
coal industry and the public
INDIANApOLIS 'r'll Com
plrte cessation of coat r,unu.,.rr bS
union miners was accomplished to-
day, the first OF their Nationwide
suspension Ut work.
Reports to hcadQua>. ms here Vi
the United Mine Workers of Amcuca
showed II shutdown IN every field,
with the only uncertainty as to tn,
effectiveness Of the suspcnsiu being
the number OF nOn-DniOn miners who
had joined IN" waIkout.
President john l.. Lewis, the union
leader, estimated that 100000 men
idle, and nc added that no change was
to be expected ON Monday on account
Cl to-day tile anniversary or the es-
tablshment of the oiGht-hOur wort
day in the mines being one of gen
cral observance as a holiday among
miners. some operators, however,
said tho extent OF the suspension
would not hc shown until Monday.
apparently expecting some men to
return 20 work then
Lost production OF 100000 tons
daily OF hltuminOus coal and approx
mntcly $1,000, 900 in wages was esti-
mated 10y union officials 10 have
resulted from the suspension, while
in the anthracite fields the loss was
300. 900 tons Of coal and $500, 900 I'm
wages.
The unions war chest was enriched
by 500, 900 to-day through the action
o' Federal Judge 4. b. Anderson. who
accepted the personal rCCogniZancc oil
Mr.. Lewis and William Green, secre-
tary- treasurer OF the union, in the
place of surety company bonds that
were indemnified by the unions de-
posIt of cash.
= AA4btA bAAANAAAn AlNAN ibSAhlNh lH0
suspension would be directed largely
by district leaders with general direc-
tlon in tho hands OF President John
l.. Lewis. whose "nsld heRdquartors"
will bo whorover he happens to be.
Mr., LewiS's immediate plans call
for his leaving here Tonight TO-
Washington, appearing on Mondny
before tho fGouEs Labor Committee
taon proceeding 80 Nav York 20 re
sumo wage Negotiations with the an
tnraettr operators. Hr declared ne
expected 20 lay tne miners Uass be-