Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-30
UNTONIZATION
OF MINERS is
MOOT QUESTION
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN

Washington, D. c., April 20
Whether IL is in the general in
terest TO nave basic industry,
such as coal, part union and part
non-union, is one of the import
ant questions to which public
scrutiny has been invited. not to
say forced, by the nationwide
strike which was begun on April
II. Union mine workers and anti
union operators say that there is
but one answer to the question:
although their answers are dia-
metrically different. The miners,
through their spokesman, such
as John l.. Lewis and Philip Muir
ray, respectively president and
vice-president of the United Mine
Workers of America, declare that
If the coal industry was complete
ly organized, all the ills and evils
that characterize it would be
speedily cured or corrected. Also
the public would be saved mil
lions of dollars on its annual coal
bill and spared the general bust
ness upheavals incident to strikes
and shut-downs.
Anti-union operators, on the
other hand, assert that it Is their
successful opposition to unioniza-
ton that prevents complete union
domination of the industry, event.
ually leading to the taking over
Of the mines by the workers, and
that preventing unionization pro-
tects the public against fuel
famine when a strike or shut
down occurs in the union fields,
and against eXhorbitant prices for
coal under normal conditions.
Many union operators agree with
the officials of the mine workers
that it would be for the best in
terests Of everybody concerned If
the industry were 100 per cent
organized and say that there is
no hope for stability of produc-
ton and regularity of employ
ment until uniform wages and
working conditions prevail at
every mine in the country, They |
also urge that it is unfair that |
the large body of operators who
pay union wage scales, observe |
union hours and subscribe to |
union working conditions should |
be subjected to competition with |
the Independents who can make
their own terms with their min
ers and hence produce coal at a |
cost materially lower than the
cost at union mines.
Other union operators say that
If it were not for the fact that
there is a considerab BILE part of !
this industry unorganized it would
be impossible ever to reach fair
wage and working agreements
with the union. Some of these
operators would like to break
away from any and all relations
with the union, while others are
willing to go ahead under condi-
tons that involve recognition of
the union, although they do not
want to see the non-union min
brought into the union fold.
Non-union miners, being unor-
ganized, have no spokesman, and
It is accordingly impossible to re-
port their views on the question.
those of them who con-
tinued at work when the strike
was called may be assumed to be
glad to have chance to work on
the terms established by the in
dependent operators. although it
does not necessarily follow that
they are opposed to the union.
With these divergent claims and
IDEAS emanating from the indi-
giduals and interests directly and
involved in the coal con.
.roversy, the attitude of the gem
,ral public may be said to be one
If inquiry. First of all, the pub
ic Is concerned to know what
he ascertainable facts in the
may be. and then, It
would naturally follow. the pub
ic will consider arguments and ,