The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-06-30

Wnen we neeU the coal leasl. Oll-
season delivery Of coal, even to the
small consumer, whose name is le-
gion, will help materially to make the
mine workers June more like his
November. Also, each of us should
buy of one dealer, not shop" for
coat. II you or ] speculate in our
lotion purchases of coal, how can we
deplore the speculative tendency Of
our coal dealer and the chain Of bust
ness hazards thus initiated? Is It
not plain that the FETAL dealer who
can depend on his regular trade can
himself be a better customer of the
wholesaler or the selling agent OF
the mine? The large consumer can
do even more to smooth out the ir-
regularityes Of mine operation by
making long-term contracts. even
fivoyear contracts, and providing for
delivery TO suit the mine as well as
himself. Such contracts could be
made at lowest prices, for with long
term contracts in hand the mine OPP
orator could reduce his costs to a
minimum. With such a steady mar
ket, full year operation and steady
employment would become possible
-ths mine worker would earn
years wage and the public would not
nay for idleness. That reform, how
ever, must begin At home not at the
distant mine-the consumer must
start II.
with market demands more regu-
lar It will become even more obvious
that the overdeveloped industry must
suffer deflation; fewer mines and
fewer miners can and should furnish
the needed coal. Mr.. Peabody as
representative operator admits that
one-third Of the operating mines re-
present burden on the industry,
and he suggests their elimination
through bankruptcy. Ellis Searles, the
editor of the United Mine Workers
Journal admits that 10000 miners,
like onethird OF the mines, should be
eliminated, and he suggests that they
leave the mine for the farm. Mr..
Peabody estimates that the idle days
OF our bituminous mines involve an
annual loss TO the capital and labor
employed Of not less thanN$40O.OOO,-
600, and / suspect that most of this
loss is paid by the consumer.
A longer working year for reduc-
cd force is the only possible method
of bringing about the lower wage
scale and the larger annual earnings,
both of which are generally needed.
II is largely by reason of the high
unit rate Of wages that coal costs too
much and on broad economic
grounds II may well be questioned
whether the producer should be paid
a wage out OF all proportion with the
wage of the consumer. Can a 50
day workman afford to buy coal
mined by a $40 day mine worker?
To hasten this needed deflation,
even tho 1t be accomplished thru the
working Of the law of supply and de-
mand, there must be better inform
ed and more aroused public opinion
The people netd to realize more
thoroughly that their industrial life
as well as their domestic comfort de-
ponds upon coal. This business OF
mining and distributing coal ranks
with the public utilities, and pub
lie regulation will surely come as
need arises. The words of President
Harding Deliberate public opinion
never fails" expresses truth as ap-
plicable now as in the days OF Lin
coin.
Whenever public interest is arous-
ed in the coal question, the defensive
note of the coal men is likely to be
that appeal for LESS Government in
business" an appeal with which l
sympathize so far as Governmental
regulation might drag politics into
business. The political danger that
really confronts the coal business is
that the leaders in the industry will
too long be blind to the trend OF the
times. In this year of the independ-
ence of the United States of Ameri-
ca, the 146th, the American people
are not reactionary-theo old ways OF
doing business are not to be the
new ways. Our reverence for the
privileges and rights of private bu-
siness is giving way to new atti-
tude. We are asking what is private
business and what is public business.
Forced to extremes by private dis
regard OF public interest, this ten
dency in popular thought may even
become dangerous and Secretary
Hoover's recent statement to the OPP
orators that "if our coal industry
does not govern itself 1t will surely