The Connecticut labor news., 1922-05-12

That It coal owners win 1t means
 These were charges made on the Bland this week in a scathing denunci
 Here are extracts from Bland's h I've have inquired about profits and losses, illegal combinations, and coal prohteering. At the outset we were met with the remarkable state ment of facts that no Government fact-fnding agency was able to give any information on more than 2,5oo mines out of the possible II,ooo, and that for the most part the information was restricted to two or three hun dred mines.
 Coal Owners Come With Padded
 Reports"
 "The National Coal Association, through its vice-president, Mr. Nor row, came forward with its padded report, stating that their compilations of the cost of coal production showed that it averaged $2.o4 per ton and that the labor cost per ton was $I.oo2. Upon being questioned as to details of labor cost, no information could be obtained to show what the cost was i'll the better class of mines. It was admitted that in arriving at the average many 'fy-by- night mines which operated only when there was an excessive demand for, coal, were included in the compilations of pro- duction cost.
 Il make this statement adVlScdly- there is no agency in this Government today that has the information, or that can obtain it, as to what it cost during the last year for a we'll equipped, efficient coal mine to pro- duce a ton of coal. The government not only does not have it, but the right to obtain it is denied them by the coal producer. He says 1t IS an unwarranted interference with his private business.
 these Bolshevists are asking the Government of the. United States SIG ton for Navy coal" * *
 "Mr. Morrow, vice-president of the National Coal Association, said that he was paying SIS per ton for coal in Washington City. A fellow by the name of Ritter, according to his testimony before a coal Investigating to sell to the consumers here at con siderably reduced prices.
 The retailers organization, in the shadow of the Department of Justice, told him in no uncertain terms that his underselling the retailers organ ization was unfair, and that he would have to raise the price or they would put him out of business. And they did put him out of business.
 Certain operators would make the public believe-and they are the greatest propagandists i'll America today-that all the ills of the coal in dustry should be laid upon the back of the man who digs the coal, They must know that this is unfair, and if you will go with me into the minin g fields, with which I am acquainted, can show you in many places the hovel of the coal miner, where he sits today with his poorly clad, pinched- faced family, breeding over the un- kindness of fate.
 Steel Trust Owns Million Acres of
 Coal
 "The United States Steel Corpora ton owns 100000 acres of coal land The railroad companies own millions more, and are operating them in many instances. Are we to be- lieve that these steel companies and railroad companies are idly watching these days go by while the stout hearted pick wielder sits in his cabin door waiting for the opening of the mines? These powerful organiza- tions, in my judgment, are wasting milloins trying to teach an exasper- ated public that their hands are clean, that their hearts are pure, that their methods are good, that they are phil anthropists, and all that stands be- tween the public and the solution of the fuel problem is the horny-handed fellows that get $I.o8 per ton for mining it. And there are those among you who have been led into this way of thinking.
 Most of those who have openly fought unionism have not the cour- age to go before the public and show that their present attempts are made in that direction, because they realize that the United Mine Workers of America, not only during the war but during it's existence, has been the stabilizing influence that has kept down Bolsheviks and extreme radi- calism in the mining industry and by keeping the men working in the coal mines when otherwise there would have been industrial chaos.
 "If this fight is to be fought out to finish it means that the doctrine of Judge Gary, the open shop, the abolitoin of the union in our mines ol the UnitedS tates-shall maintain, or that the recognition of the existing miners organization and contract shall eventually result"