The New York herald., 1922-04-07
Hoover, Back From West,
Reports Great Output OF
NOn-UniOn Mines.
MORE OPERATORS SAY mo-
House Committee Told Miners
Scale Means Financial Sui
eide for Owners.

WAsHINGToN. April 6.--A defense of
the bituminous coal operators posi-
ton in refusing to negotiate a central
agreement with the miners union was
presented by T. II. Watkins. spokes-
man for Pennsylvania producers. to
the House Labor Committee to-day in
its investigation Of the coal strike. At
the same time an intimation was
given by Attorney General Daugherty.
through letter from him to Repre-
sentative Bland. which was read into
the record. that the mine owners
would face no prosecution under anti
trust laws if they again saw fit to fix
national wages in the industry by
such an agreement.
Other developments included a state
ment by Secretary Hoover upon his
return from the West that reports,
presumably from non-union fields,
showed that bituminous coal mined on
Monday, after the strike had been
| called. amounted to $4,000 tons and
on Tuesday to 1000 tons. He de-
clared. however. that the time was in
sufficient to justify any deductions be-
ing drawn from these figures in their
| possible bearing on the question OF
sufficiency Of supply.
| Chairman Nolan Of the House Labor
! Committee also made public teiegraphic
messa ges from representative operators
| in the central field, which, he said.
were not entirely final in their refusai
| to accede to the committees request
| to renew interstate negotiations with
the union.
"They Indicate" he declared. "a spirit
4 of willingness to meet the men In their
| own district"
| "smoke Screen" Of Miners.
Mr.. watkins. before the House COM
mittee. attacked the United Mine Work
ers or America as setting up smoke
screen. familiar union tactics. In
charging operators with breach OF con-
! tract The union Itself he said. was
breaking the contract. because 1t re-
fused to meet with mine owners In the
great producing districts OF the coun'
try outside OF Ohio. Illinois. Indiana
and western Pennsylvania TO riN soaies.
| It would be financial suicide, ne
added. for the group he represented
| ~ continue making its wages On the
basis of the interstate agreement Tor
| which negotiations had not becn be-
/ enn. and he accused the union LADDERS
! Of ..autocratic abuse of power - call
! ing the national strike.
For the central Pennsyivania opera
tore who employed 43.000 of the strik-
ing miners. Mr. Watkins SAID mere was
No disnosition to break the organiza-
ion Of the United Mine Workers, be-
| causa II might be replaced by an or
canization more violent" but he de-
ci.rsd rhe unions leaders were grossly
! ,gn6rant Of economic law" The union
,,slds had been constantly losing busi-
rass To the non-union ffeids, ne as
serted. and even the union men mao
been forced by idieness TO ieave tneir
oss.a t;ons and go to other fields.
IT, y,ost Of the other districts out
sida tho central competitive field. he
add his associates had been refused
an c,nortunity to negotiate a new wage
| agreement.
Suggests Gigantic Struggle.
p.nreaentative Bland suggested that
!, the struggle was allowed to go or
! "the railroads. steel interests anc other
industrial enterprises would re AZ linco
up on one side and all union iaoor o'i
4 .Tben YOU will see the real people OF
.be rTni,ed States Mr.. watkins re-
\ torted communicating such groups as
,,o,, have suggested. rise up ana say
80 far shall you 60 and no further.
! 0perators intended. Mr.. Watkins con-
tInued. to abolish the check on sys-
tenn by which they collect the union
dues out OF payroiis. because the union
ought to be made up of voluntary menl-
bers."
! Chairman Nolan remarked at one tim
during interchanges with the witness
1 that the country believes mistake
| was made by the refusal OF operators
in the central competitive field to live
m to their agreement TO again enter
interstate negotiation. THE people are
not concerned whether the two sidos
come together BY districts or States. =
he added. "and we hope that week or
ten days will bring II about"
Mr.. DauEherty's Letter.
The letter from Mr.. Daughcrty to
Representative Bland follows:
II have your letter OF this date max
ing inquiry OF me as 10 the attitude OF
the Department OF Justice with respect
n TO q conference between the operators
and the miners of the central compete
tive field.
| II peg 10 AuNlse you tilht iUuls-IIeNlH
were found in The Indiana Federal Court
against a large number OF operators
and q large number OF minors for things
charged to have been done by them At
meetings where conferences similar "a
those now proposed took place Thu
indictments were found prior 20 the tire
of my assuming the office of Attorney
General Of the United States. Some os
those indicted we're residents or States
other than the state OF Indiana. n
practically all OF tho States outside OF
Indiana certain defendants resisted ro.
moval proceedings. and theee removal
proceedings are stili pending.
while the Department or Justice has
not been officially asked by anybody e
state the position Of the department In
regard to these indictments, or in re.
gard TO seeking other indictments ir
case such a meeting as had been under
discussion recently should be held,
have. in public statements and private
conversation. very frankly stated that
considering the agreement two wears
ago between the miners and opera tors
In this particular field (and. II may be
said, the Government participating In
that agreement), a meeting should be
held prior to the 3lst day OF March