The New York herald., 1922-07-16
TEXT OF MINERS REJECTION
OF PRESIDENTS PEACE PLAN
Continued from First Page.

Of anthracite coal to domestic con-
sumers.
"All the facts. In short. must be
known If justice Is to be done to the
anthracite mine workers and the public.
Moreover. after the facts are known
equitable results cannot be secure until
assurance is received that any construc-
tive reforms. based on / study Of the
facts. are to be practically accepted and
applied.
Abstract reasoning alone would
clearly demonstrate the soundness Of
this conclusion. but aside from all ab-
stract considerations the actual history
OF the coal industry itself during the
last two years amply confirms it. Two
years ago. after prolonged strike aris-
ing from the same fundamental causes
as the existing strike, our rates of pay
in the bituminous mines were fixed by
a Presidential commission with complete
authority as to wages, prices and
profits. In making its wage award this
commission also made seventeen basic
recommendations. Most Of these recon-
mendations were made with the knowl-
edge that If carried out they would
stabilize thS industry and bring de-
gree of order out of chaos. The wage
scale also was predicated upon the as
sumption that these recommendations
would be needed and adopted but alb
solutely nothing has been done. On the
contrary, the year 1921 was the most
disorsanized and irregular period that
the soft coal industry has had for at
least thirty years.
Several months after the bituninous
coal commission had rendered its report
a decision as to wages and working
conditions in the anthracite field was
handed down by the anthracite coal
commission. which had also been ap-
pointed by the President. Unlike the
bituminous commission. however. the
anthracite commission restricted its
findings to wage matters only. The re-
suit was that wages were fixed below
accepted Standards as to healthful and
decent living requirements without re-
gard to labor and other costs Of produc-
ton. monopoly profits and prices to
consumers.
Both by reason and experience. we
are, therefore. convinced that the es-
tablishpent Of fair wage IN the coal
of operation, over development, costs
of production, profits and prices.
when all the facts bearing upon the
production and distribution. of coal
have been collected and impartially
analyzed. we SHALL gladly face these
facts and accept them as a cor .:tion
to the rehabilitation of the coal min
Ing industry.
In any case the combination of a
scientific investigating commission with
wage arbitration board O. bad. 1t 6
particularly bad when the wage scale
at issue Is q matter of heated and Bit
the commission. to be of real service,
must be- to collect the facts and give
consideration to broad matters Of prin-
cipal and policy. These questions in
volve the reorganization of a huge in
dustry. which. in itself, is prodigious
undertaking.
I'm the face of this tremendously i'm
portant task no wage questions should
be injected.
1--WE believe that there would be no
difficulty In establishing proper wage
scales through conference with the op-
orators If the industry itself was operat-
ing on proper basis and that therefor
II the commission Is successful in-estab-
fishing the proper basis for the future
conduct of the industry the fixing of de-
tailed wage scales can properly be lett
to the usual conference.
THE mine workers desire to point out
that the coal operators who have been
In attendance at the recent conferences
assembled by you and to whom you
have submitted the plan for arbitration
of the coal strike are only partially rep-
resentative Of the producing interests
affected by the present suspension OF
mining. Operators representing nearly
80 per cent. Of the tonnage In strike
fields where production Is stopped have
not been In attendance at such recent
conferences and we have no informa-
ton that proposed plan Of arbitration
las been submitted to them by any Gov
ernmental agency.
| 1--WE are further advised through pub
| lie and private. information that these
inerests have no intention of coming
within the purview of the provisions OF
your plan of adjustment. Under such
circumstances It Is futile to believe that
any general settlement can be made. II
Is manifestly unfair to attempt to exact
from the mine workers representatives
commitment to an arbitration plan
while at the same time powerful oper'
ating interest employing hundreds OF
/ tuousdlius ol i1eu HOW OIL ctEihe cIc toA'
free to follow their own eslfish impulses
and escape responsibility in tile premises
We feel assured that your Excellency
transmitted this plan OF settlement with
the sincere hope that the present strike
could be adjusted upon a basis of ma
tional scope.
I'VE find upon examination ant
analysis, however. that even the ac-
ceptarce of the plan by the mine work
ers would bring about only a partia
settlement. leaving the public to be em
barrassed and Industry further dlslo
Gated by continuance of the strike
situation in vast coal producing areas
The mine workers cannot under, these
circumstances likely consider the uttel
abandonment OF more than 100000 OF
their members TO the whims and caprcei
OF hostile employing interests who are
publicly committed to the policy of de-
struction of collective bargaining in ths
industry.
For these substantial reasons the rep
resentatives Of the United Mine Workers
are compelled TO withhold their accept