Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-08
labor WAR in WEST VIRGIN
l. la TOLD OF BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic J. Haskif.

The trouble is due solely 10 the
denial by the operators Of the right
Of their employees 20 join the union,
and TO the methods adopted by the
operators to enforce tina. denial
methods that were coerciye and in
tlmldating and resulted in the IN
vaslon OF the constitutional and Geo.
nomlc rights OF the workers.
Menace 60 Public Welfare
saConditions OF the West Nlr-
ginla non-union fields and the con-
troversy there are a menace TO the
public welfare. prevent the stabili-
zation and orderly development OF
the entire bltuminous coal industry
and tend 20 foment discord and un-
rest in all other industries.
Recognition OF the rights OF the
workers TO Join the union will not
result necessarily in the unioniza-
ton Of the non-union fields.
The United Mine Workers OF
America Is a lawful organization. II
does not seek the appropriation OF
private property. and II Is not in a
conspiracy with the operators OF the
Central Competitive Field against
the non-union operators in West
Virginia.
The non-unlon operators Of
West Virginia are in a conspiracy
with the United States Steel Cor
poration. the Pennsylvania rail-
road, and closely affiliated financial
and business interests. In the So
called open shop movement which
aims TO breakdown and destroy all
trade unions"
Po,h Sac. advance additions OF
the difficulty which are quite as
much at variance as their general
contentious. According to the OPP
orators the only solution Is 20 give
them a free hand in conducting
their business and operating their
mines on their own terms and con-
ditions, and to bar the union from
any attempt TO organize the workers
in the non-union mines.
On the other hand. the union lead
ers say that the only solution Is TO
give the miners in the non-union
fields the unquestioned and ina
bridged right OF union membership
and legitimate trade union activity.
With the foregoing presentation
OF the ~contending claims OF the par
ties Immediately interested in the
conflict accepted as fairly accurate.
the public may be assured OF the
further fact that Il has been and Is a
costly struggle. The miners union
has expended millions OF dollars in
organization work. in supporting
strikers ami their families who were
evicted from their homes. and In
fighting the various legal proceed
ings in the courts.
There has been no estimate OF the
aggregate expense 10 the operators,
but their bill Of costs must neces-
sarily be almost as large as that OF
the union. In addition there Is the
drain upon the taxpayers OF West
Virginia and the Federal govern
ment, as well as a large IL somewhat
intangible expense 10 the general
public due TO increased cost OF coal
and the effect OF the controversy up
on all other industry.
That the struggle will be prolong-
ed indefinitely is apparent from the
unyielding determination expressed
by leaders on both sides Unfortu-
nately from the public viewpoint, IL
is a fight that cannot be fought to
a finish with a decision that the de-
feated must accept. Accordingly the
public not only may be unable 20
decide who is right and who Is
wrong in West Virginia. but may
never see a victor emerge from the
fray. Meanwhile. the public pays
and pays.