The Omaha morning bee., 1922-11-11
Union Big
Factor in
Coal Mining
Freedom From Labor Trou.
bles and Adequate Trans.
porlalion Requirements
Needed in Industry.
Strikes Economic Loss


Washington. NOV 10. a}y A. ~ =
Freedom from artiflcially provoked
labor troubcs4 and adequate trans
poriation" according to letter from
al authorized committee Of bltumInous
operators filed by request of the
United states Coal commission, are
The tow requirements most needed
by Tho coal Industry A denial that
acknowledged decentralization" could
be said 90 exist IN tho industry be.
oauso of recent -difficultles and ex.
tension q the "autocfntic control" OF
the United Mine Workers % Amer.
lea would add 70 tho difficulties.
were also incorporated IN the re-.
port which WAS made through the
National coal aggociation.
The commission asked generally for
tho employers. views of the direction
which should be given its effort IN
the endeayor Of the comply with the
law requiring II Ia ascertain all Of
the facts concerning coal produc.
tion and the operators letter set out
seven points which they considered
should he covered. as follows:
IL. The effect on production and
on The price Of coal, TO the consumer.
of the monopolistic adm absentee con.
tfol of mine labor in the United
States.
Unions Attacked.
'2.~ The opposition Of organized Ia.
Dor 10 the introduction Of labor say.
ing machinery
"3. The nonobscryaricc by or.
ganizcd labor u contracts made on
its behalf
"a. The existing prices Of minimum
materials and supplies and com
parlson between them and the prices
existing prios TO the war.
"5. The existing freight rates and
competition between them and the
rates existing prior to the war.
"6. The effect Of inadequate trans.
portation facilities ON production and
cost Of coal.
r. The character and duality Of
the different Goals, the us to which
they are put, ad tlit demand there.
fore"
TO specific questions from the com
mission, concerning the cause Of
strikes. the operators returned an.
swers critical Of the miners union.
Strikes occur from time to time 1t
individual mines by reason Of local
causes" the letter said They are
always IN economic loss. They are
Usually a breach OF contract on the
art OF the miners.
Oppose Extension Of Power.
There can be no doubt that the
fundamental cause OF local az well
as strikes OF nationwide character,
like those of 1919 and 1921, are due
10 despotic control OF approximately
60 per cent Of the mine labor Of the
United States and Canada by a single
organization, with power to stop at
viii the production and movement in
commerce OF approximately
80 per cent Of the normal coal output
of the country. In the opinion of
this committee, the continuation, to
say nothing Of any further extension,
II the autocratie power Of the United
Mine Worker, Of America, would be
ealainitous to the general welfare OF
eomtry."
Wage payments cannot be standard
izcd the operators contended answer
ing another specific question. because |
OF variance in living costs and condi- |
tions in various sections Of the United
States. Further, a suggestion from
The commission that production !
ie coal mines might be met by closing |
down noneconomic mines. under stat
niory authority TO he hereafter Great |
od was strongly attacked. I
I'VE know of no way in which any |
mine may be closed down contrary to
the wish OF the owner. except by the !
operation OF economic law the oper-
alors declared.