The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-21

Such q step might have the effect Of
breaking up the miners union alto
gether. and for that reason will not
even be suggested only as last re-
aort. Five states ALREADY have sue.
cessfully carried out that policy With
cut a word from the federal govern
meut. which thus far has retraiued
from encoura ging any break-away OF
The states from the national miners
union Jurisdiction The states OF
WASHINGTON, Colorado, Utah, Kansas
aud New Mexico are today mining
coal not only sufficient for their OWE
needs. but for other states.
State Powers Are Broad.
The powers OF the individual states
are far-reachinS. Not only could the
mines be seized and regulated just as
the fuel administration did during the
var. but wage agreements can be ne
cctiated directly between workers and
operators. and the price OF coal TO the
consumer can be definitely limited
Once the negotiations were successful
as between the miners IN state and
their employers, the chances OF the
national union recovering its influence
With the miners would be imperttled.
Administration officials copyersant
with the intimate details Of the con.
fereuces which took place here be-
tween miners and operators repre-
seutatives say that because the ope-.
ators In those 1--WE states mentioned
we're zetirS alonS so we'll with their
men they ratural? declined TO come
70 Washington to put themselves once
more under the influence Of John j..
Lewis OF the miners union. These ad-
rrinistration officials say. however,
that II Mr. Lewis had accepted arbt'
ration the number Of operators refIS.
ing would have been negligible,
Puts Blame on Lewis.
For the first tine in labor history,
said cabinet officer today. the mtu'
percent Of the operators John Mitch.
ell never had more than 30 percent
And OUT OF the GO. fully IS percent
were ready 70 accept arbitration n
Mr.. Lewis had agreed on behalf OF
the miners TO arbitration. Il would
have been 4 simple matter to compel
the other operators to come In. too.
During President Roosevelt's admins:
traior John Mitchell was tho one 70
accept arbitration promptly, and then
Mr.. Roosevelt had leverage In public
sentiment with which be was abia to
persuade the operators 10 agree like
wise.
IN those four or FIVE states where
Independence Of the unions had been
achieved. there was natural desire
70 refrain from q Washington confer
euce. and II was largely Mr.. Lewis
desire that the federal government
force those operators into conference
that prevented an agreement All talk
that we didn't have representative
operators is erroneous. We had prac.
tically all the representatives Of the
union Helds and many Of those from
the mixed fields"
WatchfuI Waiting.
The federal governments polio" for
the moment is one OF Tatchful wait.
trE. The operators say that - per.
cent OL JHetI eiuPfOC - " Ill 50 JAIN ~
work II thg can be assured that their
homes willAnct be blown up. Protec.
ton is being granted 70 prevent dis.
orders or destruction OF property II
IN the face Of that protection the min.
srs do not come back to work. the gov
ernors Of the states will be urged 10
seize tbs mines and regulate their
operation by negotiating separetelv
scales 81 wages as economic conft.
lions Ia each state may require Thus
q failure Of the minera' leaders % 70
consider their refusal 10 arbitrate may
mean BODY blow 10 unionism
through the natural course which tho
federal and state governments NAV
dnd themselves compelled to adopt in
the interest Of public safety and