The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-18

Gentlemen Of the congress:
alt is manifestly my duty to bring to
your attention the industrial situation
which confronts the country. The situa-
and coal mining strikes is so serious. so
. menacing TO the nations welfare, that 1
should be remiss If / failed frankly to
lay the matter before you and at the
same time acquaint you and the whole
people with such efforts as the executive
branch Of the government has made By the
voluntary exercise Of its good offices to
"The suspension of the coal industry
dates back to last April i. when the work;
ing agreement between mine operators ana
the United Mine Workers came TO an end.
Anticipating the expiration OF contract
which was negotiated with the govern
mInistration sought, rs early as last DC
tober. conferences between the operators
and miners in order TO facilitate either n
new extended agreement In order TO
avoid any suspension Of production when
workers declined to confer. tho the Ope-
rators were agreeable, the mine workers
excusing their dcclination on the ground
that the union officials could have no au-
thority to negotiate until after their an
auai convention
How the STRIFE Started.
"A short time prior to the expiration Of
the working agreement the mine workeEs.
the central competitive fields covering the
states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana ana
Illinois and In spite of the union declina-
ton Of the governments Informal sugges-
tion for the conference five months before,
the government, informally but sincerely,
commended the conference, but it was
declined by certain groups of operators,
and the coal mining controversy ended IN
made nation-wide, so far as the organized
mine workers could control. and included
where there was neither grievance nor dis
pnte. and effected a complete tieup of the
1T is to be noted that when the sus-
pension began, large stocks OF coat were
on hand, mined at wages higher than those
paid during the war. there was only the
buying impelled by necessity, and there
was a belief that coal must i; yield ED to the
Ga hand began to reach such diminutlon as
10 menace industry and hinder transporta-
ton, approximately June /, oVertuTes were
Initiated by the government In the nope
of expediting settlement None or these
availed. individual and district tenders
of settlement on the part OF the operators
in some instances appeals for settlement
were wholly unavailing. The dominant
groups among the operators were insistent
on having district agreements; the doni-
nant mine workers were demanding a ma
tion-vvide settlement.
Government Was without Authority.
THE government being without authority
to enforce a strike settlement in the coal
industry could only volunteer its good Of
fees in finding n way of adjustment
Accordingly, the conference OF the coal
operators associations and the general and
district officials of the United Mine Work
ers Of America was called to meet in Wash
ingtOn on July 1. The designation of rep
resentation was left 10 the officials of the ,
various organizations and there was ma
tion-wide representation, except from the
nonunion fields of the country. Before
the joint meeting expressed the deep con-
Germ of the country and invited them to
meet at a conference table and end the
disputes between them The conference
did not develop even a hope. The Op-
orators we're asking for their district or
territorial conferences; the workers de-
manded national settlement on old basis.
Appraising correctly the hOpelessnesS of
the situation, / again invited both OPP
orators and workers TO meet with me, aud
rendered a means of settlement justly
tuSpir6f. haiti Ntasa difficult TO see how
any believing in industrial peace and
In substance, it called on the operators to
open their mines. and the mine workers
GndeE the same Working CONDITIONS I as pre- pre-
vailed at the time the strike began. In
a coal commission, or two OF them, IL pre-
ferrtd by all parties in the dispute. so that
one could ueaI WIN the pltuhihous shua-
ton, the other with the problems in the
anthracite field.
Among the commissioners were to be
Representatives OF the operators, represen-
natives Of the mine workers, and outstand-
ing disinterested and able representatixies
of the American public. The commission
was to be instructed to direct its first in
quIry to The rate Of wages to he paid for
the period ending next April, and then to
enter upon a fact-findinE inquiry into
every phase Of the industry and point the
ductiOn. The disputants all endorsed the
suggestion of a fact-finding commission.
The anthracite operators promptly accept
ell the entire proposal. The mine workers
refused to resume work under the artdtra-
ton plan. The majority Of the bituminous
operators filed an acceptance. but a consid-
cradle minority declined the proposal.
Under these circumstances having no
authority to demand compliance. the gov
crnment had no course than to invite a
resumption of production until the rights
Of all parties To the controversy had been
settled with assurance OF government pro-
lection of each and every one in his lawful
pursuits. This fact was communicated TO
the governors Of all coal producing states
and with two exceptions. assurances OF
In some instances, concrete proof of cffec-
tive readiness to protect AZ men strikers
" given. But little or no prodnction fol-
lowed The simhle slgnlfisnnt truth was
from the districts worked by nOn-orGanized
miners. the country is at the mercy OF the
United Mine Workers.
AT Mercy of L. NJ. W. A."
'Goveruors in various states reported
that their operators ard miners had no dis
trict leaders Informed me that their work
men were anxious to return to their Jobs,
Rs5 'n Of Ses n aRd P%oPRmen have ad
vised the White House beseechinE a set
grievances anA that there Is an unending
story Of appeals for relief where neces-
slty or suffering were impeIIing. where a 1
mere expression of need ought to find
AT every stage, the government has been
a Just neutral regarding wage scales and
working contracts There are evils in our
pIIl sbssni1 which make the Wage "T Problem
difficult In the bituminous coal fields.
are vastly more mines than are requisite
600 more mine workers than are needed
TO produce In continuous employment the
country's normal requirements by con-
tinuous employment mean approximately
$50 working days in the year In many
instances last year, men were employed
less than. $50 days, in some cases, fewer
than that. In the over manned sections.
men divided the working time. and high
wages are necessary to meet the cost of
tie bnrest living Interrupted transportn-
ten. sorely broken employment. the failure
TO develop storage against enlarged de-
raands and Inadequate carryfnE-au these
present problems bearing righteous
wage adjustment demand constructive so
lution.