The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-06-01

lish. so far as possible, continuity
of employment.
Such an Investigation and such
report will take considerable time.
1t is all the more necessary, there
fore, that it should be gotten under
way Immediately.
At the moment the consuming pub
lie is confronted with strike which
involves practically all of the union
workers and large majority of the
non-union workers as we'll, simply be-
cause the operatives have refused to
work under living conditions which
are disgrace to the community, and
at wages which they claim are far
below the actual cost of living. The
operators have refused to correct the
living conditions, and have refused to
pay what appears to be living wage,
and have refused to justify their po-
sition by comforting with the United
Mine Workers, Notwithstanding that
the agreement between the operators
and operatives which expired on April
lst, provided for such conference.
What is more important, however, is
the fact that the operators have re-
fused to furnish the information
which is necessary to arrive at clear
understanding of these questions, and
have even gone so far as to obtain an
injunction prohibiting the Federal
Trade Commission from conducting
an investigation for the purpose of
ascertaining the facts.
Under these circumstances it is
difficult to understand the hesitancy
of our Administration at Washington
in stepping in and representing the
public's interest. The Administra-
tion's contention that the time has
not yet arrived for any such action is
wholly untenable. The public has a
right to call upon it's Government at
any time to act for it in adjusting a
situation dealing with its vital neces-
sities.r3 1t has right to demand that
the Government act Immediately, and
that pending the result of such inves-
legations as l have above recommend
ed the Government demand that both
the operators and operatives resume
work upon basis that will guarantee
the miner a living wage and the ope-
rator living profit. Should both the
operators and the operatives refuse
to yield to such demand the Govern
ment on behalf of the American peo-
pie, whose representative it is, should
operate the mines, reserving if nee
essary, any disputed difference in wa
ges and profit for subsequent adjust
ment, precisely in the same manner
that the courts have dealt with the
gas companies in their many in
stances of disputed gas rates. The
failure of the Administration so to
act and its refusal to take any action
up to date on behalf of the consum-
ing public cannot be excused nor de-
Tended.
The explanation lies in the fact
that the coal industry, like the rail-
roeds, is under the control of a small
SiouP WIZ HdNC dlSO StCuTSQ
the control of both the Republica an
and Democratic parties, and whose
selfish interests demand that they
'o-ceal the real facts and exploit the
public for their own individual profit.
lrpso doing they have destroyed rep
resentative government, and prevent
Congress from courageously and hon.
estly protect ting the interests of the
American people.
1t is the duty of the voting citizen
to take the initiative and re-establish
! representative government by re-or-
gsnizing Congress itself. 1t is owing
to this necessity that the Comm ttee
of 4S is organizing a new party as
channcl thu ough which the American
people may function effectively 1t
is upon this issue that the tickets al
re"dy in process of nomination in
Idaho, Nebraska, Northe DAKOTA, South
Dakota. and Wisconsin, will contest
the 1922 election with view to put
ting new party bloc in Office.
]. A. H HOPKINS.