Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-04
NOT TO REPLY
Continued from PAGE One

Illinois mine owners take the mark
ets." =
Although holding that q new
wage scale was the first essential.
MIR. Lewis told Chairman Nolan Of
the House committee If Congress or
anybody else could get a. "represcn-
tative number of operators from all
the central fields into q conference
those controlling a substantial ton
mage, l meant shall advise the
United Mine Workers-and I think
they will take my advice-to nego-
tiate with them for a new contract"
Short of this step, he added, min
ers and operators comforting by dis
tricts would lust be talking-do-
ing no good"
In speaking of the general condi-
ton of the industry, Mr.. Lewis Pc
ferred for the most part to blum
nous matters in view of the wider
scope and Importance of that indus
try as compared with the anthracite.
Although the United Mine Workers
stood for naturalization Of coal
mines, with adequate assurance 10
property owners involved" he classes
government ownership as impos-
sible at this time"
Miners know that they cannot
hope to get more than 215 days work
q year as things stand" he declared,
land that part time operation tends
to increase its scope year after year.
Loath as some people may be to face
the difficulties and hazards, II pri-
vate industry cannot work out this
problem, regularize employing mt and
stabilize outputs. it may be necessary
for the government to assume the
burden. l believe congress could
well set up a tribunal or a bureau to
investigate. at least, and give the
facts which might determine a pol
icy"
Mr. Lewis paid his respects TO
what he termed "a general financial
demand for liquidation Of labor and
defiation of wages" by declaring that
there was nothing constructive in
the business viewpoint today, and de-
preston cannot be overcome by cut
ting wages and further lowering the
purchasing power of labor" The
union operators. especially those OF
West Virginia, he said. were Ish-
maelites of industry. whose hand is
against industry. who are fomenting
industrial difficulties that they may
get high prices"
BE sure that il this do-nothiNg
policy of business leaves the issues
to be fought out" he said. with the
government standing aside as 4 neu-
trail observer. the public will have TO
foot the bill"
The industry itself was "tremen-
dously wasteful." he asserted. in its
intermittent operation and likewise
operators got used to large margins
of profit during the war and want
to retain them" In general. he de-
clared that neither the anthracite
cured wage scales which kept pace
with the advances of the cost of liv-
ing during and after the war. and
surely now they cannot be asked to
accept less than the small declines
in living costs allow. which sum
would be so small as not to affect
the consumers price. even if 1t es-
capped the middlemen in the mar
kets." Profits in recent years. In
some mines, he said. in some cases
exceeded the total mine cost OF pro-
duction of coal.
Asked to outline the degree OF
regulation he thought the govern
ment might apply to the industry.
Mr.. Lewis sharply opposed the set
ting up of wage fixing tribunals. and
likewise said he was not suggesting
that the government fix prices. The
question was not finished when he
left the stand for the day to resume
tomorrow.
Representative Bland. Republican.
Indiana, author of the resolution be
fore the committee. asked the strike
leader to give his views of the pros
poets in the strike.
II assume that in due time the
operators will be compelled" Mr..
Lewis responded. Ito recognize the
obligation assumed in their old con-
tract tC confer with the United Mine
Workers for a new central scale. and
to recognize equally the desirability
of such a new contract. 1 cannot
conceive that they can long with
stand the power Of public opinion in
the matter"