The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-04-03
SOME MINES
ARE WORKING ON
NORMAL PLANS
Several Strongly Unionized
Sections Report 100 Per
Cent Detection of Men on
First Day of Real Test
of Strength in Battle

Washington, d. G., April 3.-Uniol
coal miners who suspended work Sat
llrday in the nations bituminous AM
anthracite fields were declared to-da,
by John L. Lewis, president of til
United Mine Workers Of America, {,
be desirous of ending the suspension
Of mining operations at the earliest
possible date .but the resumption oi
coal production entirely depends upon
the future attitude Of the coal oper-
ators.1
Mr.. Lewis made this declaration be.
fore the House labor committee which
is holding hearings on the Bland reso-
luton to direct appointment by the
president of commission to investi-
gate the coal industry. Discussing The
resolution under confederation, the
United Mine Workers president as
serted that his organization would vel
come any impartial and judicial in
,cstigation of the general conditions
~ the bituminous and anthracite coal
industries and especially the facts re-
lating to the investments and profits.
operating practices, conservation Of
fuel resources, application OF uniform
methods of safeguarding the life and
limb of the workers and industrial re-
laiions and conditions.
Such an investigation fommittee,"
he added, should be clothed with full
power TO ascertain the truth, to send
for persons and paPers and to take
testimony under oath The personnel
of such a commission should be free
from political equations and the mine
workers should be given adequate rep
rescntation thereon"
.As TO the adjustment Of contfo-
yersies between operators and miners
we have been traditionally opposed 10
government intervention" slr. Lewis
continued. 'We have been convinced
by experience that such adjustments
may be more effectively and equtablv
worked out both in The interest of
the public and Of those engaged in the
industry by conference and agreement
between representatives OF the oper-
ators and the mine workers. II The
operators had maintained their con
tract with W. the present deplorablc
condition Of affairs in the soft coal
industry would not have arisen"
In support of this Last statement. he
cited a provision in the basic agree
ment" as follows.
Resolved. that an interstate Joint
conference be held prior to April l.
1922. the time and place of holding
such meeting is referred TO commit
ice of two operators and two miners
from each state herein represented CO.
gether with the international officers
of the United Mine Workers organi-
zation.'
This arrangement was part OF
the agreement equally as binding as
any other provision and was duly exc
cuted in writing through the attach
mcnt of the signature of the operators
and the mine workers representatives
II was q pledge morally as binding IS
any bond or promissory note ever exc
cuted in a, business transaction The 4
mine workers of the country believed |
that the coal operators signed the /
agreement in good faith. but we now
find that they contumaeiously refuse to
live up 10 their agreement.
'.ln the fact of such brazen and un
compromising attitude ON the part of I
the coal operators the mine workers
had no alternative but to quit their
work when the agreement expired aud
await the making Of another agree
ment fixing their schedules of wages
and governing their conditions OF EN-
ployment.
Despite the failure Of our previous
attempts TO secure q meeting with the
coal operators for the purpose Of ne
gotiating a new government. the mine
workers are still ready TO meet az any
time such meeting j. possible