davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By W. D. Mckinney
(Southern Ohio Coal Exchanpel

l. Southern Ohio operators will meet
with representatives of the United
Mine Workers of that district at any
time to agree upon a new scale that
is fair to the southern Ohio miners
and the public.
2. Western Pennsylvania and south
ern Ohio object to a general meeting
to fix a general scale applicable to
other states and districts, but want a
meeting to take into consideration their
conditions and fix a scale fair to their
miners and the public, and one that
will permit their miners to work in
excess of the % per cent employment
enjoyed by southern Ohio miners in
the calendar year 1921.
3. Southern Ohio miners, under the
central competitive scale for 1921,
worked less than "a per cent time
Northern and eastern Ohio miners
worked So per cent time. Illinois
miners worked AZ per cent time. In
| diana miners worked 40 per cent time
Hence southern Ohio's obvious refusal
to enter into a joint meeting with the
competitive field, fearing new scale
fixed by the same agency will again
practically close their mines.
4. In view of existing conditions, the
price of coal will probably remain LON
for some months, strike or no strike.
5. Empty and idle coal cars are OBJ
yiously due to lack of demand for theii
employment.
6. Mined coal cannot be held al
bituminous mines; consequently there
is none being held and there will BIZ
none held April /, 1922.
7. Business is very dull and there
may be mined approximately IS pei
cent of 100 per cent output for the en-
tire state. Many southern Ohio mines
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Bv Phil II. Penna

Indiana Coal Operators Association)
I. do not think the operators of the
central competitive field will meet the
miners to make a new agreement be-
fore April l.
2. Illinois, Indiana and eastern Ohio
have signifed their willingness to at
tend a joint conference if convened
only as a technical compliance with
the contract provision, but without
hope of agreement.
3. | cannot answer for Pennsylvania
and southern Ohio, unless it is that
the miners demands are so impossible
that the operators of those districts
regard it a waste OF time and money to
meet TO discuss them. All operators
share this opinion, especially in view
Of the fact that We were in almost six
months continuous conference in 1920
discussing the same absurdities, prac-
tically ell of which were denied by the
Federal commission.
4. strike on April I should not ma
terially interfere with the price of coal,
because considerable coal is being
stored. The Southern states will con-
tinue their normal production. There
will be no serious shortage, and there
should be no perceptible increase in
price nor inconvenience to the public,
provided consumers purchase and store
all they can to April !.
have m Icfi S,ta 6,,x
III a general way that shipments have
been less in the time named this year
than last. This is true Of the competi-
tive field as whole, but especially so
of Pennsylvania and southern Ohio
Empty cars idle on all railroad sidings
is due to the fact that the people are
not buying coal in such quantities as
to require their use. There can be no
other reason.
6. There is no loaded coal held at the
mines in our state. We have no way
of holding coal at the mines except in
railroad cars, and are not permitted to
use them for that purpose. There will
not be any held at the mines on April I
|
plants.
Z. If the people want and will buy
it and the miners will work, we can
ship from our mines to April about
1900, 900 tons. We lost more than 50,-
600 tons yesterday and to-day by
miners strikes contrary to contract
8. There is no reply to the mine
workers charge that the operators
have violated the agreement i'll refus-
ing to meet them except to admit the
fact, and the only excuse is that q
contract with the United Mine Work
ers is of no value. Under the present
contract we have had more than 200
strikes in Indiana, each of which is
admitted by the miners officers a VIC
lation of the contract by the miners.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

have not produced ton of coal in
more than year or account of ths
existing high wage scale. The tonnage
is being produced in other districts
where coal can be produced at lower
cost
8. The charge is but technical ore.
Last October President Harding in
vited both miners and operators TO
convene scale meeting under public
supervision. The operators assented,
but the miners refused, saying they
could not attend until after the con
vention, and that they were not AZ
liberty to talk scale until their cor
vention lad instructed them.
The miners convention was held
February II and fixed their scale de-
as the war wage scale, but added 25
per cent thereto through abandoning
the eight hour day and forty ight-hour
week and substituting therefor TIE six
hour day and thirty-hour week. Then
to clinch the matter they passed the
following resolution:
"Any wage scale negotiated must be
submitted to a referendum vote Of the
membership affected for approval be
fore it is finally accepted"
Then on February 81 they asked the
operators to meet them in scale con
vention.
1t is easy to imagine what the Amer
can coal consumer, the American pub
lie and American industry would say
If the operators would meet to dis
cuss such a proposition in scale con
vcntion, when liquidation in all other
industries is the order of the day.
And no material progress can be had
by any industry unwilling TO assume
its sponsibilities Of revising and
lowering its war costs of production.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

trlct are operating only about 25 per
cent, which takes care of all demands
for present consumption and storage.
Even the non-uM,on mines on low wage
scales are operating only part time.
8. At the last joint conference of the
so-called four competitive states a.
which the present agreement was nego-
tiated resolution was passed provid-
ing that two representatives of opera
tors and miners in the four states
should meet to fix time for another
fourstate conference.
This resolution has been part of
the foursta agreements for years.
Its sole purpose is to set in motion the
machinery to carry on the four state
joint conference method of wage max
ing. AS we have definitely determined
that We will not enter into another
four-state agreement it is obviously
insincere for us to participate either in
a preliminary meeting to fix time
for the joint conference meeting or
IL the Joint conference itself.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Only Intervention of the Presi-
dent, 1t Now Seems, Can
Avert Tie-Up

storage on the ground Or held in rail-
ROAD cars ut mines at this date is essen
TALLY negligible, not to exceed one or
at most two days run Of the mines.
Coal prices will, Of course, be affected
directly by supply. 1t is believed non
union collicriss can readily provide g.
100000 to 100000 tons week, prob
ably more, if adequate transportation
Is available.
There is and has been for several
months past an excess Of empty coal
cars, because the public generally is
not buying coal freely. Illinois mines
are even now operating only on so per
cent time.
1t must constantly be borne in mind
that Mr.. Lewis and fis executive associ-
ates are not in position to complete q
wage agreement at the present time
They have no latitude in which to do so
and can only present the demands
adopted at the recent miners conven-
ton, and, If the present referendum
now being taken shall 80 authorize
there would be no other procedure for
Mr.. Lewis to follow, if these demands
are denied by the operators, than to de-
clare strike by his entire member
ship not orly9in the central competitive
field, but everywhere else to which his
authority might extend.
Of what avail is joint four state
conference under such circumsta stances
And why the arbitrary dcnials of sepa-
rate state regotations7
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

On this account Illinois now feels en-
tlrely relieved of any sponsiblity
that may have existed under the res
olution passed at the time the present
agreement was entered into
Because of a sincere desire to pre-
vent mine strike or any unnecessary
stoppage of our mine operations, uli-
nols has requested conference with
its own miners, course of action spe-
clhcally provided for in the thirty-s sec
ond section Of the Illinois wage agree
ment the integrity and fultilment of
which were guaranteed to the Presi~
dents Bituminous Wage Commission
by the miners organization. Each of
the other districts has likewise ex-
pressed willingness to meet its own
miners.
Under these circumstances it seems
to US perfectly evident, and must so
appeal to the public. that Mr.. Lewis is
less anxious to establish contact with
coal operators and start negotiations
:
determined to continue the four state
conference method.
Pleads for Public Support
To Prevent Wage Injustice
The coal operators in every district
OF the central competitive field find
themselves in very difficult position,
in that an apparently entirely adequate
supply of coal is available to meet the
present consumption requirements of
the country, at price on board cars
at non-union mines of about 81 a ton
less than must be paid to labor alone
in Illinois.
Three things are fully realized and
sincerely believed:
/. That the United Mine Workers
will make every possible effort to en-
force their announced demands to the
maximum extent
?. That they will largely, if not
wholly, succeed unless the operators
are fully sustained in wage negotiations
by a determined public opinion that
will demand the return of wage levels
in the coal mining industry to parity
with wages in other basic industries
3. That political expediency can
serve no useful purpose in the public
behalf in these negotiations.
In Western fields generally coal in
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By r. w. Gardiner
pittsburgh Coal Producers Associa-
tion.)

/. The operators of the Pittsburgh
district notified the Secretary Of Labor
that they would not meet representa-
tives Of the United Mine Workers in a
four-state Joint conference, but they
have informed him that they will meet
the miners of the Pittsburgh district,
union or non-union, to negotiate wage
scale without the check-off feature at
any time the men in this district are
willing to meet. The United Mine
Workers of America were likewise so
notified.
2. We are absolutely opposed to con-
tinuing the four-state arrangement
heretofore practiced for the following
reasons:
The Pittsburgh district is surrounded
by nonunion mines, where wage scales
adjusted to present economic conditions
prevail. These mines are in competi-
tlon with the union mines in all fields.
The natural operating and CONNER
cial conditions differ widely in each of
the so-called four competitive states
and in the rest of the country. Any
wage scale negotiated in a four state
joint conference overrides the natural
advantages of one section over another
and levels up to the base of the most
unfavorably situated district. This
means that this district loses economic
advantages it has a right to enjoy.
Anv waQa scale SO negotiated Ia then
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Statistics ON the Coal Situation

Total number Of union miners
$4,000, according to union fig
ures, with 425,000 III the bitumi-
nous and $4,000 in the anthra-
cite fields.
Ratio of union to non-union
miners-So to 20, according to
union figures. These claim a 100
per cent union organization III the
anthracite fields.
Chief bituminous producing
states - Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, known
as the Central Competitive Field
and West Virginia, which has the
greatest proportion of non-union
miners.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

to the United States is beng
widely discussed by the French
press and in political circles
this week. This is cause for con-
graduation, because, through the dis
cussion, one is permitted to feel the
pulse of French public opinion.
Some days ago, in speech delivered
at Lyons, Louis Locheur, the great
French industrial nagnate and former
minister Of Brands Cabinet, declared
bluntly that "France never will be able
to pay cent of her debt to America"
This statement aroused storm Of pro-
tests all over France, proving that
there is a deep gulf between the prin-
ciples of the great industrial magnate
and those of the people; between the
conceptions of the fnancier and those
of the crowd.
France, above all, is composed OF
small owners, traders and capitalists.
To them financial honesty is an i'm
mutable tradition. For them bank
ruptcy is the greatest Of all shames.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Secretary Davis to the Operators
CAS- Issued by the Department of Labor


Secretary Davis is now in direct
communications with representatives OF
the coal operators of the central con-
petitive field. 1t is his earnest desire
that both miners and operators carry
out the spirit and intent of the resolu~
tion adopted at the New York confer
ence of March, 1920, which provided
for preliminary conference to meet
prior to April /, 1922, to arrange tins
and place for meeting to take I'D
and consider the making of g. nev
agreement.
The Secretarys action is heartily
approved by President Harding. None
of the government officials in touch
with the threatened coal situation can
see any objection to council table
gathering of those directly interested
in the bituminous coal industry, and
particularly in the present situation,
when it is part of the last agreement
and in line with long time practice in
the coal industry. Joint meetings such
as those of the anthracite operators
and miners called for New York City
March 15 give to each side an oppor-
tunity to SO into every phase of ths
disputed factors and can only result IN
better understanding.
The course suggested by Secretary
Davis is only an expression of the
earnest conviction of the public, as
is evidenced by scores of editorials in
the leading newspapers of the coun-
try, that until such a meeting is held, in
accordance with a previous under
standing, the two sides to tho coal
situation have not discharged the obi
cations resting upon them.
The government has no desire TO
interfere unduly, but, having not only
the interests of the employers and
employees in mind, il also has a duty
to safeguard the interests of tbs
people who will be seriously affected
by the suspension of coal mining.
Secretary Davis cannot see why, in the
interests Of common sense, the two
sides to the coal controversy cannot
get together and adjust their differ
ences and save the country from the
costlx xssultS a{ q StzikaA .,.a..,-
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By Dr.. F. c. Honnold

Qllinois Coal Operators Association)
cannot undertake to answer your
questions categorically.
Apparent public opinion to the con-
trary notwithstanding, there is no reg
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By John L. Lewis
president United Mine Workers Of
America)

The United Mine Workers Of Amer
ica are still hoping that the operators
Of the central competitive field will
yet decide to live UP to their agree
ment and meet US in z joint conference
TO negotiate a new wage scale to be
in effect for the next two years
The miners have done everything
honorable in their power to induce
the operators TO fulfill their obligation
III this matter, and they will continue
to do al they can toward that end.
1t is extraordinary, indeed, when mer
sign their names to written contract
and then deliberately violate it b.
refusing to abide by it and carry out
| their pledges.
Up to this time we have failed to
bring the operators into conference
and the only thing that we can hope
for now is that the government at
Washington may succeed in bringing
sufficient pressure to bear on these
operators to compel them to meet witb
US as they agreed they would do.
But the fact is that the operators
want strike, while the miners do not.
That's the difference between them.
Powerful interests behind these cos1
companies are carrying on union
busting campaign, and their purpose is
to destroy organized labor in gen 4
eral. They know if they could bu
destroy the United Mine WorkersV
they could destroy any or all other
labor unions. But in this plan they
canpot succeed. TIE United Mins
Workers of America cannot bs thus
destroyed.
We do not believe the American
public will sustain the operators in
their attitude of refusal to meet with
the miners and in their defiance of the
governments request. We believe the
public will demand that these coal
operators live up to their agreement
, just as any other set of business men
are expected to fulfill their obligations.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

Other bituminous producing
states-Maryland, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Texas, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming,
Montana, North Dakota and
Washington.
Anthracite production - Con-
fined entirely to northeastern
Pennsylvania.
Bitunlinous production capacity
(union figures 800, 100000 tons
year.
Bltuminous production for 1921
(union figures)-4O7, 100000 tons.
Wasted capacity shown for
1921--393, 100000 tons.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
cla.17eS cID1Zzs,,
s5ecye%<T T2;a,zzt3xzs, T2aLa5ox e..
and

forced by the United Mine Workers as
base on the rest of the United States
We believe this to be economically un-
sound and not in the best interests of
the public.
The officials of the mine workers are
not authorized by their convention to
negotiate final agreement, but any
arrangement entered into with the
United Mine Workers officials must be
submitted to a general vote of their en-
tire membership for approval before it
can be made reflective. An agreement
the mine workers. organization is abso-
lutely inhexible and admits Of no
change to meet changing economic and
competitive conditions. The situation
which has prevailed in this district
during the past year absolutely demon
strates that this district cannot oper-
ate under any such inhexible agree
ment in competition with non-union
mines that adjust their wages as cir
cumstances require.
Country Has Coal Supply
To Last Sixty to Ninety Days
3. See answer to Question g.
4. Best information shows that the
railroads, industries and public service
companies of the country generally
have supplies of coal to carry them
from sixty to ninety days, and the con-
stantly increasing non-union tonnage
of the country will amply take care of
all demands for coal. We think this
condition justifes our belief that there
would not be any increase in the price
of coal.
5. The movement Of coal OF the rail
roads in this district during the last
four weeks, as compared with the cor
responding period in 1921, was re-
duction of 80 per cent. The reason for
the great number of empty cars is
oversupply Of coal
6. 1t is not possible to store coal at
the mines in this district, either IN
railroad cars or storage piles, as it
serves no economic purpose. Coal can
only be successfully stored at point of
consumption.
T. The mines in the Pittsburgh dis
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By Stephane L,auzanne
SpcetuI Gable TO The Tribune
PARIS, March

-~HE question of the French debt
to the United States is being
widely discussed by the French
~ xrnrr and In nnlitical circles
New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
By Gilman Parker

.S he question of whether there
will be an international coal
strike In this country and
- Canada heSirnin1 ON Anril 1
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08

strongest man in Japan next 20 the
two Genro, who for 80 years was
constantly at Prince Yama gata 3
elbow. f. the new Lord Keeper of
the privy seal His appointment Is
decided victory for the Choshu
clan. the first in many months since
the popular cry for disarmament
turned sentiment from them. Hirata
since the death OF Yamagata in Feb
ruary. has been possibly second only
20 Gen. Baron Tanaka in leading the
old clan
There has been much written about
the GcnrO's lease on life. VIII they
continue Certainly not the old
Genro-they cannot be replaced. No
one can I'll the shoes OF TO. Okub0,
Inouye. Oyama. Nama gaia. Mat
sukata and SaionU.
They ushered Japan through the
critical stage Of the first transition.
The word OF the two surviving Ell
der Statesmen is practically law.
When they, too, go there probably
viii be new Genro. but not a per-
pecuatiOn of the old GenrO 10y the
Injection of new blood. Hirata and
others. particularly Admiral Count
lamamot0 Of the Satsuma clan, are
consulted much now. When the
time comes they may form a new
dictatorial clique which will hold a
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
SECRET POLICE ARE
REVIVED BY SOVIET

MOSCOW tBy mail 10 United
Prses1-An old institution 81 TIE
czarstic regime. the much-drssded
"Dvoruick. VIII be reestablishsd.
according 90 an announcement Of
lhe Moscow Soviet.
While hts outward JOB vas 20
look after the yard. the staircases.
sweep the streets and similar work.
the dvornlck played nevertheless a
much more important role and vas
regarded as regular tyrant whom
every dvornick was secret police
man and whonsoeve he denounced
20 the police was done for. AMONGST
his duties ne had 20 register all
persons living in --his- house with
the police
Under the czarfztic regime. the
Jewish population was not permit
ted 20 live within the big cities and
consequently those Jews who never
theless lived there. did - without
registering with The police. OF
course he had 90 pay tho dvorni K
q. high bribe.
The new dvornick win have tho
same functions. Sweeping the
streets. lighting the staircases ana
corridors az night
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
JAPANESE "ELDER"
STATESMEN PASSING
Old Genros Lease on Life is
Limited: Can Never BE
Replaced.

TOXIC. nov. Z. - Old Japan Is
fast changing. The last Of the IA
nous Elder Statesmen Of the Meiji
era has relinqulshcd his government
post only two OF the Genro remain
Prince Matsukata Che has just
been promoted from a marquis) and
Prince Saioni. Matsukata has just
retired as Lord Keeper Of the Priyy
seal. his last post
The two are very old. well In the
SOS. SaionB has been ill for months.
and Matsukata is fast failing. The
two. particularly Matsukata. made
Baron Kato premier last spring.
When the time comes they viii prob
ably remove him and name his sue
cessor, but that will be about the
last OF their making and unuaking
OF ministries.
Niscount Hirata. possibly the
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
HAS MILLION But WILL
STICK TO OLD JOB

KENTON. o.. Nov. Z. - 4 mere
million dollars isn't enough 20 make
Albert Sormus. so. give up his jani-
tor job.
Sormus awoke one morning re-
Gently 20 learn that an uncle, Got
fried Daniel Hoffman. Berlin. Ger
many. had Dequeathed him one
tenth OF his ten million dollar estate
Sormus thus became Kenton's first
millionaire.
The legacy. however. viii not lift
Sormus out Of his daily routine. He
has been janitor OF "a kenton lodge
home for i years and intends to
stick with the Job.
4 fought for the United States
in the Civil war and I like IT," he
said. Seventeen years ago I had
20 fight for this job, so 1 am going
10 hang on"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
TWO MEN KIDNAP
CHICAGO SCHOOL
GIRLS WITH TAXI

CHICAGO. NOV. IL BY I. y.
S.)-Missing sinCc sunday. two
high school girls. Amy Hottat. 10
and Bertha Heuberg. rs. early
today appeared at their homes
and told sensational stories Of
having been kidnapped by Chauf-
feur and a man who said ne was
n detective.
The men held them prisoners
in a taXiCab in "a lonely prairie on
the far south side. and attempted
Co attack them. the girls said
The SO-CaiIcd detective. who
wore star and carried "A rcyol-
yer. kept drinking whisky from a
bottle. according 60 the girls.
The men kept hugging and
kissing Us in the taNiCab but they
didn't hurt Us" one of the girls
said Their stories are being in
ycstigatCd.