Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-04-04
PRESIDENT LEWIS APPEARS
BEFORE HoUs EcOMMITTEE

Washington, April 3.-Discussing beforr
the house labor committee today reasons
why 500, 900 anthracite and bituminous
coal miners stopped work last Saturday
IN the United States and Canada, joan
L. Lewis, president of the United Min2
Workers of America, mad official leader
of the strike, declared that the anthracite
workers had gone out merely to await the
results Of a peaceful negotiation with
their employers over a new wage scale,
but that the bituminous workers were
out indefinitely, If ned be. to obtain the
signing Of basic wage contract.
The bituninous workers, Mr.. Lewis de-
clared before the committee, which Is con-
sidering the Bland resolution to direct
appointment by the president of a com
mission to investigate the coal industry,
are out TO stay indefinitely, if need be,
until the operators of the Central com
petitive field Of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois
and Western Pennsylvania sign up a
basic wage contract according TO their
pledge, on which the other coal mining
districts Of the United States can settle
In reply to questions By Representative
RIack Democrat, Texas as TO why the
union would not settle with operators in
states and districts where work could
be resumed under satisfactory conditions.
Mr.. Lewis insisted that competition would
not permit the. operators to fixe' wages
locally without a knowledge of the wage
scales their competitors would have.
Even II the operators OF Illinois, for
instance" hge added, ARE willing to sign
up a new scale for themselves, without
regard to- their competitors the United
Mine Workers are unwilling to have its
members in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania.
Indiana. and Virginia dragged into the
suffering of long strike while the Illi-
nois mine owners take the markets"
Although holding that national wage
scale was the first essential, Mr.. Lewis told
Chairman Nolan of the house committee.
If congress- or anybody else could get "a
representative number Of operators from
those controlling a substantial tonnage, )
mean, I shall advise the United Mine
WOrkers-and I think they will take my
advice-to negotiate with them for a new
contract"
Short Of this step, he added. miners and
operators, comforting by districts would
Just be talklng-doing ogood."
Mr.. Lewis said that although the Unit
ed Mine Workers stood for nationaliza-
| ton of coal mines, with adequate assur-
ance to property owners involved he
| classed government ownership as im2os-
sible at this time"
Miners know that they cannot hope to
get more than BIS days work a year as
things stand. he declared, "and that part
time operation tends to increase year aft
er year. If private industry cannot wor.i
out this problem, regularize eTnploymen;
and stabilize OUTPUTS, It may be necessary
for the government to assume the bur
den believe congress could well set uq
a tribunal or a bureau to Investigate. al
leas;. and give the facts which might de
ter!nine a policy"
Mr.. Lewis paid his respects TO what h.
termed "a general financial demand for
| liquidation Of labor and defiation of wag-
es" by declaring that there was nothing
constructive in the business viewpoint to-
! day. and depression cannot be overcome
! by cutting wages and further lowerius
| the purchasing power Of labor"
| BE sure that II this do-nothing policy
Of business leaves the issues to be fought
out he said, with the government stand
| ing aside as neutral observer, the prbli.
I will have TO foot the bill
The industry itself was ''tremendousiy
wasteful," he asserted, in its intermittent
| operation and likewise operators got used
to large margins of profits during the wal
| and want to retain them
Profits in recent years, in some mines
| he said. in some cases exceeded the total
mine cost of production Of coal.
| Asked to outline the degree OF regula-
tlon he thought the government might az
ply 10 The industry, Mr.. Lewis sh2rpl,
opposed the setting up Of wage fixing tri.
bunals and likewise said he was not sug
gesting that tho government hx prices
| The question was not finished when Il,
left the stand Tor the day to resume 20
morrow.
Representative Bland. republican. Ind
ana, author of the bill before the comrni.
tee asked the strike leader to give hi.
views of the prospects In the strike.
az assume that in due time the operator
will be compelled" Mr.. Lewis respond ed
ITO recognize the obligation assumed II
their old contract to confer with tn,
United Mine Workers for a new centra
scale, and to recognize equally the desir
ability of such a new contract. cannn
conceive that. they can long withstand thl
power OF public opinion in this matter.