New Ulm review., 1922-06-07

livery by the railroad or water car
lrier to the actual door or the fac
tory Of the consumer;
6. To consider the recommend
ing Of proper legislation, including if
necessary a seasonal grading Of the
freight rates that will eliminate the
irregular weekly production, avoid
the consequent car shortages, and
establish, so far as possible, con-
tinuity of employment.
Such an investigation and such a
report will take considerable time.
TT is all the more necessary, there
fore, that it should be gotten under
way Immediately.
At the moment the consuming
public is confronted with strike
which involves practically all of the
union workers and large majority
OF the non-union: workers as well,
simply because the operatives have
refused to work under living condi-
tions which are a disgrace to the
community, and at wages which
they claim are far below the actual
cost OF living. The operators have
refused to correct the living condi-
tions, and have refused to pay what
appears to be q living wage, and
have refused to justify their posi-
ton by comforting with the United
Mine Workers, Notwithstanding
that the agreement between the
operators and operatives which ex-
PRED on April 1st provided for such
a conference. What is more impor-
tant, however, is the fact that the
operators have refused to furnish
the information which is necessary
to arrive at clear under
standing of these questions,
and have even gone so far as to OBJ
tain an injunction prohibiting the
Federal Trade Commission from
conducting an investigation for the
purpose of ascertaining the facts.
Under these circumstances it is
d fficult to understand the hesitancy
of our Administration at Washing
ton in stepping in and representing
the public's interest. The. Admin
stration's contention .that the time
has not yet arrived for any such ac-
tion is wholly untenable. The pub
lie has "a right to call upon its Gov
ernment at any time to act for it in
adjusting a situation dealing with
its vital necessities. It has a right
to demand that the Government
act Immediately, and that pending
the result Of such Investigations as
/ have above recommended the
Government demand that both the
operators and operatives resume
work upon a basis that will guaran-
tee the miner a living wage and the
operator a living profit. Should
both the operators and operatives
refuse to yield to- such demand
sthe Government f;on behalf OF the
American people, 1whose representa-
tive it is, should operate the mines,
reserving if necessary any disputed
difference in wages and profit for
subsequent adjustment, precisely in
the same manner, that the courts
have dealt with the gas companies
IN their many instances of disputed
gas rates. The failure Of the Ad-
ministration so to act and its refus-
al to take any action up to date on
behalf of the consuming public can
not be excused nor defended.
The explanation lies in the fact
that the coal industry, like the rail
roads, is under the control of a
small financial group who have also
secured the control of both the Re
publican and Democratic Parties,
and whose selfish interests demand
that they conceal the real facts and
exploit the public for their own in
dividual profit. In so doing they
have destroyed representative gov
ernment, and prevent congress from
.courageously and honestly protect
ing the interests Of the American
people.
1t is the duty Of the voting citi-
zen to take the initiative and re-
establish representative government
by re-organizing Congress. It is ow-
ing to this necessity that the Commit
tee OF 48 is organizing new party as
"a channel through which the Ameri-
can people may function effectively.
It is upon this issue that the tickets
already in process of nomination in
Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin, will
contest the 1922 Election with a
view to putting ne1O party bloc in
office.
j. A. H. HOPKINS.
l .e -------- ~
It may be Of intrest to many Of
our readers to know that one If thn