New-York tribune., 1922-11-11
Mine Operators
Cite Remedies
For Trade Evils
Relief From ssAraificially
Provoked Strikes and
Better Transportation
Held To BE Needed Now
Report Given II. s. Board
Seven Points That Should
BE Covered i'm Inquiry
Set Out i'm Suggestions

sNsSN aA Ahs oI
Set Out i'm Suggestions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10. - Freedom
from "artifcially provoked labor trou-
ales" and adequate transportation, ac-
eording to letter from an authorized
COMMITTEES Of bituminous operators,
'iled to-day by request of the United
states Coal Commission. are the two
requirements most needed by the coal
industry. A denial that acknowledged
decentralization" could be said to exist
IN the industry because of recent diff
a ties, and suggestion that extern
~ OF the "autocratic control of the
slnsted Mine Workers of America would
add to the difficulties were also incor-
porated in the report, which was made
sshrough the National Coal Association
The commission asked generally for
the employers view of the direction
which would be given its efforts in the
endeayer TO comply with the law re-
quiring it to ascertain all the facts con-
cerning coal production, and the OPP
orators letter ser out seven points
which they considered should be COW
cred, as follows:
~. The effect Of production and on
the price of coal to the consumer, of
the monopolistic and absentee control
of mine labor in the United States.
Opposition to Machines
f2. The opposition of organized labor
TO the introduction Of labor-saving
machinery.
"3. The non-observance by organized
ia5or OF contracts made on its behalf.
-. The existing prices of mining
materials and supplies and compare
son between them and the prices ex-
isting prior to the war
%. The existing freight rates and
comparison between them and the
rates existing prior to the war.
"e. The effect of inadequate trans
portation facilities on production and
cost q. coal.
81. The character and quality of the
different Goals, the uses to which they
are put and the demand therefor"
To specific questions from the COM
mission concerning the cause of strikes
the operators returned answers criti-
cal of the miners union.
Strikes occur from time to time at
individual mines by reason of local
eansea,p the letter said. "They are
always an economic loss. They are
usually breach of contract on the
part of the miners.
sThere can be no doubt that the
fundamental cause of such local strikes,
as we'll as strikes Of q nation wide
character like those of 1919 and 1922,
is the despotic control of approximate
ly go per cent of the mine labor of the
United States and Canada by single
organization, with power to stop at will
the probation and movement in inter
state commerce of approximately 60
per cent of the normal coal output of
the country. In the opinion Of this
committee, the continuation, to say
nothing of any further extension, of
the autocratic power of the United
Mine Workers of America would be
ealsmitoas to the general welfare Of
the country"
Wages Cannot Be Standardized
Wage payments cannot be standard
ICED, the operators contended in an
swering another's specific question, be-
cause of variance in living costs and
conditions in various sections Of the
United States. Further, suggestion
from the commission that over-produc-
tlon in coal mines might be met by
closing down non-ec economic mines, un-
der statutory authority to be hereafter
created, was strongly attacked.
I'VE know of no way in which any
mine may be closed down contrary to
the wish of the owner, except by the
operation Of economic law the opera
tors declared.
"Ihe closing down of so-called ex-
eessive-cost mines, we suggest, will be
efectuaily accomplished by competi-
ton whenever the play of competitive
forces is free from the interruption
caused by strikes, with their resulting
panic among buyers and runaway mar
ketS,"
The letter declared the following
points were basic:
"Flrst-That every man has a RIGHT
TO work without interference or com
pnlsion when for whom and upon such
terms as he may see fit.
Second while the right of
workers to organize for legitimate pur
poses cannot be denied, such oreaniza-
tons haVeN no right to impede or re-
strain those who do not care to join
or TO deal with them.
"Third-That the right of private
property Is and must remain inviolable.
"Fourth-That in the last resolve
the law of supply and demand always
has and always will determine prices:
that no legislation can long interfere
with this inexorable rule; that any
interference can only be justified, if
at all, in time of war. and that at any
other time it will inevitably produce
greater evils than those which it seeks
Sc