Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-21
WHAT'S WRONG
WITH BUSINESS
OF COAL MEN?
Problem Now EngrOssing At
tention of President and
Cabinet.
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY EDWARD G. LOWRY.

BY EDWARD G. LOWRY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21-What is
wrong with the coal industry in the
United States? 1t is some radical and
apparently inherent defect that needs to
be overcome. It is of immediate and
vital concern to all of Us to discover the
cause Of the trouble and to cure it. The
solution cannot wait much longer the
problem is coming to a head.
MINERS AND
OPERATORS INFLAMED.
This is sharply and clearly realized at
Washington. For some months Mr..
Hoover has been holding private meetings
with the mine operators and representa-
tfves Of the miners. Both the miners ana
operators have disclosed an infamed ana
unyielding state OF mind. There has
been harsh and bitter talk OF lighting it
out to a finish" It would be In the pub
lie interest if the parties in controversy
would think It out to a finish.
In its present menacing public aspect
the problem Of coal is one Of less heat
and more light. The settlement Of what
is essentially an economic and industrial
question OF vital concern to national lie
and welfare, cannot be attained in terms
Of war or by minds clouded and darkened
by hatreds and passions. The whole
matter must be thought out until. an
agreement is reached. The public interest
can permit no other course.
The economic and business relations
between the operators and the miners as
employers and employees are now engross-
ing the absorbed attention Of President
Harding and his Cabinet. It is matter
Of private business relations that should
never be forced upon the Federal Govern
ment for consideration and settlement.
On the face Of 1t, 1t Is a breakdown of our
boosted national efficiency in managing
and directing great business and indus
trial enterprises The mining and dis
tribution Of coal is in one sense a private
business, but it Is so largely affected
with a public interest that II the opera
ton is impeded or stopped the public
is deprived of an imperative need, and
the Government in its behalf must step
in and as best it can, and against Its
will and desire take the coal it must
have That is the condition and situation
that threatens today.
SHOULD BE PROFITABLE
BUSINESS.
Digging coal out of the ground and
sailing it TO persons and industries
who must have 1t or die, should be one
Of the most stable and profitable Of all
businesses 1t should not require any
great competency and skill in mecchan-
dising to maket a national necessity.
The demands for the product can be
closely measured. Under ordinary and
proper conditions coal should provide
constant and Well-paid employment to
the miners and a reasonable and profit
able return on the capital investment Of
the mine owners and operators. 1t Ia
notorious that such is not the case. The
miners are infamed and angry and dis
satisfied. They are not on good terms
with their employers. Strikes are con-
stantly threatened and frequently called.
The operators and owners are apparently
in as bad a plight. Some Of them make
money and some Of them do not, Taking
the industry as a whole, 1t is not on a sta
BILE and satisfactory basis, If we may
judge from the accounts and reports sub
mitted at Washington. The irregulari-
ties Of production and Of employment af-
feet the operators as adversely as they
do the miners They make permanent
and long time contracturaI agreements
with industries difficult and at times i'm
possible. They are the cause of frictions
and misunderstanding between buyer
and seller We, the consumers, are
equally disaRected and dissatisfied. There
Is a general feeling that coal is cost
ing US too much that It should be pro-
Quced ana SOLO at q lower price ana stlll
make decent living and a decent profit
for the coal miner and the coal opera
tor.
High prices for coal mean high prices
for food, clothing, shelter and transpor-
tation. That is TO say for the necessities
Of nfe.. The individuals and the indus
tries, both wholly dependent on coal.
feel that we are paying these high
prices because the coal industry is not
properly organized because It does not
need or attempt to defy economic laws,
simple but Irresistible In their effect and
operation.
NOT GOVERNMENT
PROBLEM
The problems Of the coal business ought
to be settled in the coal business. They
should not be thrust toward Washington
as they are now being thrust. That is q
move toward Government participation
or control or ownership In the coal trade
which nobody in his senses wants. But
coal must be provided. If the parties at
interest IN the industry cannot agree
upon terms and conditions on which they
will meet the public need, then the pub
lie, perforce, through its only agency, the
Government must intervene. 1t viii not
be happy time for any Of US while the
Government Is learning the coal business.
The experiment with the railroads should
be a reminder Of that. II participation
in or control Of coal production is added
to the already over-long list Of Federal
activities, It win be an unrelieved mis-
~ f~.tk 49, I'd