The Washington times., 1922-05-19
COAL OWNERS
PLOT AGAINST
UNIONS, CHARGE
Russell Exposes Giant Scheme
Fostered by Magnates to
Control Industry.
By CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL
Copyright. 1922. by Cosmopolitan News

By CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL
Copyright. 1922. by Cosmopolitan News
ServIce)
What is all the row about in
this great coal industry that means
so much to the life and welfare
Of the nation?
We may as we'll have the whole
story Of it. Then If there is to
be. for the lack Of coal. general
collapse of business and transpor-
tation we shall know why.
Miners Are Skilled.
Mining is a skilled trade. complex
and difficult. Skilled miners are
paid by the ton mined; mine laborers
by the day. Most skilled miners and
most mine laborers belong to the
United Mine Workers, the labor
union OF the trade.
Beginning In 1915, the United Mine
Workers. by dint Of many dema nds
and struggles with the operators,
won increases Of pay to meet the in
creased cost Of living. At that time
even. A dollar in 1919 would buy
spite of their increases they were
really getting, not more money. but
less.
They sought another increase and
failed. In October. 1919. they struck.
A wartime measure called the Lever
act was construed to mean that their
strike was illegal. Federal Judge
Anderson ordered the unions officers
to revoke the strike order, although
the men had voted for it almost
unanimously.
The officers obeyed. Most OF the
men refused to return to work.
In this way the industry dritted
along some weeks. while the coal
stocks ran perilously low. Then the
Federal Government came in, brought
the two sides together. fixed up a
truce, and, after much comforting.
an agreement was signed for peace
and work. This was March 10. 1870.
Agreement Is Signed.
The agreement provided 81 per
cent increase in tonnage pay for
miners and 20 per cent increase
1t was to expire March 81. 1922,
and contained this paragraph:
Resolved, That an Interstate joint
be held prior to April l.
1922. The time and place OF holding
said meeting is referred to a COM
mittee OF two operators and two
miners from each State herein
together with the inter.
officers of the United Mine
Workers organization"
Operators and miners accepted
this.
On December rs. 1921, three and
A half months before the agreement
would expire, the president Of the
United Mine Workers wrote to the
operators associations included IN
the agreement. reminding them Of
this paragraph in II and suggesting
a meeting to arrange for the con
ference.
The operators associations re-
sponded in different keys. Those
In the West generally accepted the
suggestion and said they would
send delegates. Those in the East
turned II down fiat. When the
found the Fasteners
wouldn't come in they withdrew
their own acceptances.
Hence, there was no meeting.
Hence. no conference could be held
TO make a new working basis TO take
the place OF the agreement that
would expire March 81.
Agreement Ignored.
Hence, the men, being left without
any basis for work and wages, left
the mines at the end of the working
day Of March 81. Everybody knew
long before they would do this.
They couldn't do anything else. TIE
operators knew 1t better than any
body else. Hence, again, a new kind
Of strike.
The operators, Of course, were not
reasons for refusing to keep
the compact OF March 10. In their
letters to the president of the miners
they gave some of their
reasons. The Pittsburgh Coal Pro.
iucers' Association wrote:
I'VE can see nothing beneficial to
the public or the coal industry in
such as indicated in your
letter and decline to meet
The Pittsburgh Vein Operators
wrote: I'm view Of the
which has developed, we
feel that nothing can be accomplish
ed (by the proposed meeting), and,
decline to send a repre-,
The Southern Ohio operators said:
ITO reach our natural markets, to
serve the public efficiently and eco
and to relieve conditions
which are destroying mining com
the mining Industry and
the earning power Of miners. the
operators Of Southern Ohio feel that
It Is incumbent upon them to notify
you that they cannot meet with you
as heretofore"
In the operators literature ad.
dressed 10 the public some time af-
ter, additional reasons were speci-
fled:
THE miners at their convention
had declared In favor II n six hour
day and an increase Of pay.
But the price of coal was already
too high and should be reduced. The
way to reduce ii was to reduces the
wage scale. II the miners intended
to demand another increase where
there should be a reduction nothing
was left to talk about. Wages were
out Of all reason. A six hour
day was preposterous.