New Britain herald., 1922-04-03
COAL TRoNBLE CURE.


 Workers of America has suggested as
 q cure for the recurrent troubles of
 the coal miners that congress pass
 regulatory legislation prohibiting
 further development of bituminous
 coal lands for at least ten years" In
 effect he says that the trouble is too
 many coal properties are being
 worked, resulting in frequent long
 periods of inactivity following times
 of feverish activity.
 The result of such legislation, of course, would be the continual work ing of fewer mines. with the aban-
 donment of other coal properties. With this movement would come the laying off of a certain number of men. This is true because there is a cer- tain amount of work necessary to mine the coal required by the coun- try: certain number of men is needed to mine this coal. Those not needed in the mines being worked would not be able to find work in mines elsewhere.
 The eventual result of the plan would be steady work for q compara- lively few men and cheaper opera ton with resultant lower cost to con- sumner.
 This result is the one desired, as suggested in The Herald two weeks ago. But the plan of this official cannot be carried out. Congress may not forbid the development of lands. Such action would not be constitu- tional in that it would deprive per sons of property without due process Of law. Moreover 1t is difficult to see how it would help the great body of miners. Throwing many of them out of a job would not accomplish this result. Any reduction in the number of miners must come from such action as will make the miners change their work voluntarily. Any restric- tions on the development of coal prop critics must come by making the de- velopment of such properties unwise from the point of view of the own CTS.
 There is another view to be con sidered in direct reference to the strike now on. The attitude of men i toward traditional authority has changed. Will it be seen in the stand | taken by the miners toward their leaders?
 Granted that capital may be much to blame in its desire to profit by over-development. Granted that unions aided miners to higher pay. There must be granted, also, that union leaders have been important to the men because of these frequent troubles and that union leaders would become of less importance were the coal industry to work smoothly. \ These things being admitted it is to be doubted if, as the period of idle ness continues, the men will follow their leaders as blindly as they have In the past. Everywhere men are re- belling against formerly constituted authority, open or secret They are and thinking for them selves. The miners will not be as to their leaders as they have been in the past The union men know of the comparative prosperity : If non-union miners. The latter will hesitate long before joining in the ,trike in any great numbers. The ,nion miners will consider more and nore the prosperity of non-union miners in the recent past. They will | lsk their leaders why they, too, may | lot prosper. Y The day of the political boss is q ,assing. It is not unlikely that the ? lay Of the labOr leauef Wno SeekS re- ults by drastic action to the imme- II fate detriment of workers and the D ountry is passing, also. There will Il e political leaders always and there t' i'll be labor leaders It is believed, t' owever, that the attitude of men p i'll force each class to display great e r honesty and wisdom. C