The Adair County news., 1922-05-16
ASSERTS MINERS
ARE STARVING
Republican Congressman Forces
Consideration of Strike
in House.
WORKERS BLOC SHOWS UP
Ricketts, Of Ohio, Himself Former
Miner, Declares Condition of strik-
ers in Hooking Valley Shocking
administration Defended.

Washington, April 10.-Striking coal
miners and their families in the Hook
ing valley fields are starving, congress
was told on the floor Of the house by
Representative Edwin D. Ricketts,, Re
publican, of Ohio, himself former
miner.
Ricketts, forced open consideration Of
the strike against the opposition of Re
publican Floor Leader Mondell and sig
nalized the first appearance in con-
gress of a miners bloc. In action with
him went Chairman Nolan of the
house labor committee, which has
been hearing testimony from both
sides; Edward 81. DenisOn, l Illinois
both Republicans, and Ben Johnson,
Democrat, Kentucky, and Meyer Lon
don, Socialist, New York.
They lost their first battle u to 50,
on an amendment to the apprOpria-
tiOns bill by DenisOn prohibiting the
Department of Justice from using
funds to prosecute combinations of la
Dor organizations in the interest of
higher wages and better working con-
ditiOnS.
MondeII Defends Administration.
MOndell, defending the administra-
tiOn, led the opposition to the amend
ment. He said:
"This amendment would show lack
of faith In the officers of our govern
ment and would accuse them of a mo-
tive to persecute instead of prose
cute"
An amendment by johnson to include
farmers with organized labor was vot-
ed, 75 to &c. After substitute amend
ment by London to couple the two
amendments had lost, "a to 48, Den
ison's original amendment was defeat
ed.
Most of the afternoon was given to
| discussion of the amendment, which
MOndell said he opposed because he
wanted the house to get through with
the appropriations bill.
Ricketts, contended that the coal
strike crisis constituted the most i'm
portant condition before the country
today.
'In my district" he said, there are
126 mines and more than 5000 miners.
IN the last year they have worked less
than 100 days at an average wage of
| $3.50 day, earning less than $3.50 In
the last twelve months ($1440 a
week..
Wages Not High.
"The propaganda being spread
throughout the country to the effect
that high wages are to blame for high
coal prices is absolutely false. Many
of the strikers, their wives and chill
dren in the Hooking valley district are
starving today; know of 127 families
which are receiving charity.
ut is highly important, the most i'm
portant thing before the country today,
that an agreement be reached between
the miners and the operators and the
strike ended"
| Nolan, himself former leader of or
ganized labor in California, voted for
the labor and farmer amendments.
Representative Oscar E. Bland, Repub-
lican, Indiana, father of the bill to
have the President appoint a commits
sion of three to investigate the coal in
dustry, voted with MOndell.
The only witness before the house
labor committee was John Brophy
president of the United Mine Workers
of central Pennsylvania, who said:
Mining is carried on in the dark.
ness under ground. The business OF
J coal financing and coal selling is car
ried on in the darkness of secret specu.
lation, secret profits and secret re-
sales. The result is a sick industry.
1--WE suggest that single pictorial
idea Of the robbery of the public be
made by tracing the journey of a load
ed coal car from the mine to the con.
sumer."