The New York herald., 1922-04-09
union MEN FAVOR
GROUPING OF Mines
Consolidation Of Industry I'm
der Federal Supervision In
dorsed i'm Washington.
OPERATORS ARE sKITTISH
Suggestion Made by New
York Herald Finds Favor
Among Miners Agents.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., April 3.

Special Dispatch to THE New York HrRALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. April =.
Endorsement Of the suggestions
made by THE NEW York HERALD edi-
torially for a solution of the difficult
ties between the coal miners and the
operators. so that TIE industry may
be stabilized and coal sold at fair
price, came to-day from representa-
tives of the United Mine Workers Of
America attending the investigation
of the coal strike by the House Com
mittee on Labor.
"The consolidation of the mines into
half a dozen groups said John Moore.
legislative representative of the mine
workers, operated by private owner
ship, but under the supervision of tie
Federal Government, may meet the
requirements Of the situation.
"I believe il would do much to bring
to an end the seasonal strike between
the miner and the operator. Certainly
1t would inure to the benefit OF the
public and all consumers Of coal.'
Representative Burke tPa.). membc-
of the committee. said joint conferences
between the miners and the operators
should be made compulsory.
1T is my opinion" said Mr.. Burke
"that when men arc locked out OF their
work whether they are miners or others,
they will fight. II seems to me the
operators have much to explain. Can
they explain why It is that coal costing
SO cents is sold for $2.60?"
Opposed by Operators.
Operators. as a whole seem TO be
against the creation of Federal COM
mission. They suggest legal entangle-
ments. legal restrictions, the changed
methods Of doing business and rearrange-
ment of the stock held by companies
which. perhaps. may form parts OF the
rroups into which certain fields may be
divided.
"Thc plan for stabilizing the industry
and standardizing the selling price con-
templates maze OF detail" said Albert
ogle. Indiana operator. II should want
time TO study the suggestions. as ! am
sure that they are well worth while. We
have thought considerable about such
matters. but until now have not put In
a new method owing TO the contracts
which formerly existed between the
miners and the operators.
Contracts of emo vnIue.'
The irnpossiblity OF continuing busi-
kat mi
the operators under the present methods,
the committee was told to-day by =. H.
Penua. secretary of the Indiana Bitumi-
nous Coal Association. Is apparent be-
cause contracts on working conditions
made by the miners union are OF mo
value 10 the coal operators now. Penna
in 1904 to 1907 was president OF the
United Mine Workers OF America he
left the miners organization to be-
come identified with the operators as
sociation of Indiana.
Calling attention to the fact that the
principle of collective bargaining was
first tried out at the suggestion OF the
operators. Penna asserted that time had
demonstrated its failure.
"The leaders OF the miners" he said,
"cannot compel their followers to OBJ
serve the contract. They have been a
great help In the industry and have
served a useful purpose. no doubt, but
a contract made through them Is Of no
value to the operator
Beginning HIS testimony by stating
that the operators had no serious objec-
ton to an Investigation. he said that any
movement which would disclose the
truth OF the situation should be encour-
aged. The operators books. he asserted,
were open to the committee or TO any
commission which the Government may
create for the purpose OF ascertaining
the true condition In the coal fields. The
Indiana coal operators he declared. had
been welded to the idea Of collective
bargaining since 1885.
To-day we are under indictment for
bringing about just such movement"
he continued. Some of us are afraid,
some fearful OF the result, but all OF US
sincerely believe that we are doing the
right thing. The only thing that stands
between us and the Federal penitentiary
for doing what we conceived to be the
right thing to do. In the interest OF the
Industry and humanity. is the whim OF
a jury.
'we did not intend to do harm. but
much good under the principle OF collec-
tive bargaining. II is an ideal way of
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