Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-04-22
Soft Coal Workers

mo Gture In bitumlnous coal mining.
This problem, he said. obviously was
N secure a resumption OF operations
IN a stable and uniform basis-a ba-
SIS which would place the non-union
operator on n parity with the union
operator and which would ultimately
provide practical plans for regulariz-
ng production and employment for
eliminating the wastes to the consum-
% which now arise from over expan-
sion
Tho application OF the award OF the
pr,sidenta coal commission OF 1920 to
toul union md non-union fields, Mr..
Mufra stated would remove from the
union operators. the menace OF the
Vicious competition OF union op-
orators ana bring about uniformity
N VOICES and working conditions"
"A7 soon MS these conditions were
brought nhout." he said. "there would
he no opposition to national con-
ference ~ operators and mine work.
cfA and n new working agreement
without doubt would be negotiated.
The industry could then resume oper-
atoms under favorable conditions and
av II mo report ~ tho coal commits
Nlng as 90 Tho constructive measures
ff tie permanent solution OF the
marc fundamental problems OF over
expansion ana irrccularity OF opera
uon."
Nr watkins cpntcndcd that the op-
sa'Yrs had encouraged the principle of
collective barga aiming between miners
aHl operators in large groups. but It
his temporarily broken down by ac-
'.r 40 the mine workers.
rHrlr failure to spread their con-
'ra over the large non-union fields OF
rur NenIa. West Virginia and 9TH
ad "to tho fact that they have
br.N % away from the true principles
.. 'tetIye bargaining and have
adopted nutocratic. coerclve methods
H tr. orEaui1cd fields. all of which is
SHOWN and has caused the stubborn
resistance which YOU see today among
hnia maers and operators in the non
urnu u'lds. Further. II is quite nat
u1a .tt such large organization
|.Ni NNIlA ItHt ~ ufiNNlt 10 NpnlTbl tIlt
'drAs or membership running be-
tnc.n sooeO0 and COO. 900. The result
bas boon that tho organization is per-
meaftd with men holding radical. COM
mguistc ideas.
collective bargaining gradually
faded away" he added. and for IL was
substituted collective threatening. so
that u has now grown to he the Gus
tom to approach the conference table.
AZ which they ask us 10 sit. with what
might be termed n sandbag in their
hands In tho way OF an authorized
s'Iko vote IL their demands are not
granted
Mr Garfield said the consumer of
coal is not warranted in demanding
that he pay less for the product de-
Htcrcd ~ his home or factory than
shall represent fair profit and fair
wages an just return, for transpor-
htion and & ir commission to those
VINO perform necessary functions IN
the distribution Of tho product.
what tho public objects to-" he.
declared, and TO this the public has
WHY llENt 10 OBJECT, Is tndt ldlF
profits, excessive wages. unnecessarily
largo freight charges and commissions
shall be laid upon him. and this with
ont the opportunity To be heard or the
power to prevent. lie is entitled to
be heard through his chosen repre-
gntafiycs henevcr he Is c.lled upon
~ pny NOR than liz fair. or whenever
and this more important still-this
necessary basic cor. modify is denied
10 him.
III matters not whether it 1; with
he'd by tho act of capital or OF labor
or ~ tho two combined. and II is the
bushes OF government TO protect him
IN this right"
Coal Mr.. Garfield asserted. was no
longer true private industry. moth
ing having been found in sufficient
quantity 10 take its place. He said he
dd not favor substitution OF public
ownership Of the mines for the pres
ent system.
Mr.. Bruere termed the present coal
situation n national disgrace" saying
mat tho administration at Washington
skes the complacent position that
there no crisis
Most men who have given serious
thought 20 The matter" he added. "are
'oday agreed that our fuel and power
A AlrAn MANN PNlAA1