Evening star., 1922-09-01
Rate by Mail-Payable In Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
All Other States.
Is the Public Willing to Pay!

A statement issued by the anthra-
cite operators regarding the question
of resumption Of mining is plain In Its
presentation of the issue now involved.
The operators are willing to restore
the old wages on the wartime scale
until next April Immediately, with ar
rangements meanwhile for settling
upon q new scale. The miners want
an extension of the wartime scale un-
til April 1. 1924. The operators point
out that II the scale is continued until
that date the present high price OF
coal to the consumer must remain for
twenty months. Will the public stand
for that? The operators ask for an ex-
preston of public wishes on this point.
Undoubtedly in most minds there Is
no question. Anthracite must be had
very quickly or great suffering will
ensue. In the emergency the con-
sumers are likely to reply that they
must have coal, at any terms. But the
operators hesitate about insuring coal
production on terms that will continue
for twenty months the retail prices
that are based upon the wage scale
established in war times. When the
emergency has passed, and coal Is sup
piled and the people are relieved OF
their keen anxiety, especially When
next years supply is bought, the high
prices will become burden against
which loud protest will be voiced.
In their statement the operators
note the fact that the bitumlnous
miners have returned to work at the
old scale, which is to run only until
April | next The anthracite miners
demand an extra year. The producers
can see no reason for such a differ
ence. If the public demands coal even
at that price it will be forthcoming.
In respect to the difference between
the adjustment already effected in the
soft-coal industry and that demanded
in the hard-coal field, certain facts
are to be noted. AS the President
pointed out in his address to Congress
on the general subject Of the labor dis
turbances, more soft coal mines have
been developed than are required to
supply the country's demand, and
more miners are under engagement
than are necessary to produce the
requisite supply. In the hard-coal field,
which is narrowly limited in area. con-
d;tions are wholly different. The col
lieries now developed are not capable
Of producing more than enough coal
for the country's demand, and there is
no surplus of labor. Indeed. the an
thracite supply is so limited that its
use has become more and more re-
stricted. Until an adjustment is ef-
fected. by the closing down Of soft-coal
workings to the point of actual de-
mand needs, it is obviously necessary
to maintain wages with reference to
the numbers employed and the num-
Der Of days Of work offered.
II the soft-coal workers are willing
to go back at the wartime scale until
April l next only. surely the hard-coal
men, who have a much more advan-
tageous position in respect to mining
conditions and market conditions as
well. with greater assurance Of con-
tinued employment, should be willing
TO return on the same basis. But for
reasons that are somewhat obscure to
the public, but which are perfectly
we'll understood by those who know
the political situation within the
United Mine Workers organization,
the anthracite miners are being held
out of any agreement for less than a
long-term extension Of the wartime
rates. The public must decide whether
treatment of the two groups of mine
workers.