Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-16
TALK ON NEW ENGLASD's
 INTERESTS IN COAL ISSUE

Boston, Nov. 15.-'New Englands share in the coal issue" was the topic ,on which George Otis Smith of Washington spoke before the Women's City club Of Boston, here this evening in Pilgrim hall. Mr. Smith had made this engage ment before he was appointed by Presi- dent Hardirg member of the Uunited States coal commission, and only brief mention was made of the fact-fnding work now under way.
 It may have become trite, said Com missioner Smith, to compare our coal in- dustry with sick man who is, painfully trying to keep OH his feet and carry his part of the white mans burden, but 1 know no better comparison. The coal business is sick, and though for years it had bravely concealed it's sickness, the rigors of the war demand for increased activity made the bad condition all too apparent, and the public generally began to talk about it. Many doctors of many schools were called in, heroic treatment was applied, stimulants were administer ed, and everything possible was done not only to keep the patient alive but to put him in shape to do more work. All this was a temporary makeshift. and soon after the war ended the coal business was found to be in worse shape than ever. Relapse after relapse followed, and we are now witnessing its slow recovery from the most serious five months attack it has ever had. -t-.- :
 Lately the sick industry, has been placed under observation by some new doctors-somewhat inexperienced, it is true, but extremely well meaning If the press of the country can be believed. The seven men called into the case by Pres ident Harding are apparently paying less attention to outward symptoms and more attention to underlying causes, for they believe the real need is to diagnose the hidden trouble and to suggest cure for that rather than simply to mix up sweet smelling salves to ease the local irrita- l tion., Whatever ability these new doctors | may prove to have, their plan of proceed. ure seems logical. .3-'- The law Of last September provides | for fact-fnding coal commission to aid assist and advise congress on this nation. al problem-what shall we do about oul coal business? For years 1t has: beer the coal barons and mine workers ant coal dealers who hEe been held wholly responsible whenever anything has gon' wrong with the coal business. Now, i would appear both equitable and profit able for the general public to try some self-examination the facts when founi may show that some or the reform mus begin at home, not at the distant mine | the. consumer must start it. :. s .s
 The editor of the Survey Graphic Il commenting this month on the opportuni ty of the coal commission and of the na tion it's represents, tnttmates that i will not be enough .''to, weep over. tn wrongs of the miners or to be outraged in soul by. the losses of the operators an, their stockholdersi'' .rather,i the: sioom, missions task is to "sett1e down to thi hard grind of finding out what the fact, about mining. distributing, marketing ana consuming coal are" And 1t is also th' duty of the public he most pertineiitl! Il adds to use '.the thinking part of. oul mindss not the weeping part" This edi | tors proposal Is, that to- try "to under stand our way through this: coal problem might be tho beginning of the new age" I My own conception of the task set tti coal commission continued Mr. Smith is that large as is the scope of that tasl it does not include prosecution sof- ,th guilty. The law may grant <to this bod. almost inauisitorial powers. but the rur i pose Of learning where mistakes hsv l been made ip the past is primarily; U i help in charting 9 safe course for tn 1 future. Violations of economic or eEel statute law are not to be, sought with an! l punitive. purpose in minas only for -th' 1 location of warning signals fov futuri