The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-11-25
UNION DECLARES
COMPETITION IN
MINING IS CURE
United Mine Workers Give
Views TO New Commission.
CONTINUED from page y

why, under such conditions as exist
today in the industry, they should
be permitted to open up lot Of new
mines merely to supply business and
revenue to their railroad. Yet, this
is what happens continuously, and
1t accounts for much of the dislo-
cation and confusion that exists in
the coal business"
Another question presented by the
commission relates to the 'standard-
izing of the cost Of living for miners,
and the living conditions which must
be supplied or afforded in order to
surround the workmen with reason
able comforts. and standardizing
also as far as practicable the amount
Of work a man shall perform for a
reasonable wage, recognizing the
value and effect Of such surround
ings in respect to their efficiency
Would Stantlardlze Men.
How the commission can hope
to standardize the cost Of living
without at the same time standard
izing the level Of living Of mine
workers is beyond the comprehen-
sion of the union," answer the Of
ficials. 1T seems to us that 1t would
be. impossible to standardize the cost
of-living unless each individual mine
worker was required to accept and
adopt a standard, identical level Of
living for Himself and his family.
Any attempt to establish such
standard or to fix a maximum or
minimum limit to what the individ-
uaI man might wish to adopt for
himself as his level Of living would
out-soviet any system, either pater-
naristic or communistic, that we
know of. We are unable to offer any
suggestion about 'standardizing the
cost of living for mine workers.
1T would be easy enough for ex-
perts to prepare a budget showing
the amount of food, clothing, etc.,
that is necessary to maintain q FAM
ily of a given number of members
on level Of decency and comfort,
but it would be impossible to stand
ardize the cost Of such budget. Flour
that sells for 81 at one place sells
for $1.25 at another place. Sugar
sells for cents a pOune at one place
and cents pound at another place.
Gasoline sells at 20 cents gallon
in Indiana and "a cents gallon In
why we do not know. How could
anyone hope to standardize the cost
Of living under such conditions?
Invites Investigation.
1--WE believe it IL important. how
ever that this commission ASCERTAIN
the cost of living for mine workers.
We suggest that this could best be
done by the employment Of Women
investigators. Let these investigators
go directly to the miner and his wife
and learn fro mthem the actual facts
about their cost Of living. They are
the ones Vho spend the money and
they are the ones who know what
it costs them to live.
1--WE do not believe the commits
sion should rely too heavily upon
any showing that might be made
by company stores as to the cost of
living of mine workers. The best
place to get Information is the place
where the information actually ex-
lists. and. in this instance, the miners
home is the place. Your women in.
vestigators should delve INFO the
mode of living as we'll as the cost
pf living. They could see for them
selves the kind of food and the guam
lily of it that is supplied to the fam
w..
They could see the kind. and
luality Of the clothing of the Fam
Ey and ascertain whether the guam
lily, was ample. The miners wife
would not hesitate to talk on such
matters with woman, but she
would, naturally, be reticent in her
discussion Of the subject with man
Investigator. Let your woman in
restigator ascertain whether the
miners wife is contented or unhappy
ver her condition and why. Do her
,hillren attend school regularly, or
re -they compelled to stay at home
BECAUSE of q lack of clothing, shoes
r books. a. e the children healthy