The Washington times., 1922-11-08
UNIONS WANT
INVESTIGATION
Of COALMlNES
Ellis SearIes Says Conditions
Vastly Better Where Men
Are Organized.
By Cosmopolitan Sex- service.

Throw the searChlight or Federal
inquiry onto the non-union coal IN
dustry and the facts disclosed VIII
stabilize the coal business through
the force of public opinion and VIII
make impossible such conditions as
are alleged to exist in the Colorado,
Alabama, " est Virginia, Utah, Wash.
ington and Pennsylvania unorganztd
fields, according to Ellis Searies,
editor OF the United Mine Workers
Journal.
"The United Mine Workers simply
ask the United States Coal Commits
sion to study the situation in the
non-union fields and then, by com
parison with the union operations,
determine whether or not union:Za-
ton will render an improvement,
Searles told the Cosmopolitan News
Service.
Searles pointed out the futili'y OF
Congressional Investigations and the
danger OF political influence biasing
the fipHAngs. He said the United
Mine Workers might make state
ments OF conditions c.lly 10 be chang
ed with Partially.
Commissions Plan.
But the fact finding commission
is so constituted that it's members
have no political irons in the fire.
They are without prejudice ana in
position to reach conclusions which
will have far-reaching effect on
public opinion" Searles said.
The commission will probably take
Testimony from coal operators, on
anime State and local officials where
necessary. and visit the various
operations.
An important phase of the bitumi-
nous investigation Is expected 10
center in West Virginia. Develop
ments in that State in the last few
days may bring to an abrupt matt
the trial Of union officials charged
with completely I'm the armed march
of 1921. Searles understood that coal
operators may withdraw their imam
cial support from the prosecution
The union had charged that private
interests, instead of the State or
West Virginia. were prosecuting the
miners.
The defense in the miners cases
is threatening to enter cnarees
against coal operators and state OH.
cials, charging them with faise ara
malicious prosecution Of union lead
ers. 1t is alleged oppressive methods
were used by the prosecution.
"It is notorious that Interests IN
Boston, New York. Detroit, and Gin.
cinnati control not only the coal
mines but many State officials. local
officers and some of the courts OF
West Virginia" declared Searles.
Absentee Owners at Fault.
Possibly these alien owners do
not know the methods used by thei"
representatives in dealing with en-
ployes. They don't want to know.
The United Mine Workers insist that
absentee ownership Is responsible
for much Of the turmoil in West Vir-
ginia.
when the people of that State
awake to the fact that alien owners
are exploiting their State they will do
something. West Virginia's reputa-
ton Is being ruined by those who
have no interest in its welfare and
who are simply bleeding the State Of
it's resources.
colorado is nearly as bad. the
coal industry being dominated by
outside interests. During the Colorado
strike State rangers and armed
guards actually drove the miners
out Of their homes at five O'Clock
in the morning and forced them 10
work in the mines.
"A terrible condition exists in
Alabama, where the administration
is controlled by coal and steel inter
ests. The miners are paid as low
as 50 a day, where in the organized
fields the scale for the same work Is
$3.50. They are practically held in
slavery on a starvation basis.
Miners. the same as others, must
be paid enough to live on a decent
American basis and provide for their
future, IL a stabilized industry is TO
be created"