Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-28
Tuesday, March %, 1922.
FEATURES OF COAL CONTRO.'
VERSY

six TO eight hundred thousand miners
TO throw down their picks and SHOW
els IL the plans of the union leaders
are carried out without any hitch.
Not only are they seeking to tie up
the Canadian coal mines but also
those in this country where the min
ers have no unions. Truly big un-
dertaking, which already is bending
under its own weight.
The Kansas Industrial Court is
trying to prevent a strike IN the
mines Of that state and both miners
and operators will be called before
It, The ambitions of the miners
leaders may prove an important fac
tor. Frank harrington, president of
the Illinois miners is said to be very
hostile to the domination OF Presi-
dent Lewis of the international Union
and is declaring that the Illinois min
ers will not hold the bag but will hold
conference with the operators before
March 3lst. although they will not
make separate contracts until after
some of the other districts have gone
back to work but they would make
separate agreement later if the strike
vas losing.
The national Government is evil
IDENTIFY resolved to exert its power If
necessary. Just what it may do is
not apparent. Cnwise action might
p Intensity the bitterness and compli-
cate the situation, but the attorney
FL. general has assured the public it will
not wait until manufacturing and
transportation are at standstill
= and the country freezes to death be-
fore taking action, although it has
accepted the conclusion that strike
IS inevitable. one member of the
cabinet is reported as stating that
Welsh coal can now be delivered in
san Francisco more Choaply than it
can he mined in Utah and hauled to
California. Already the costs of
mining and transportation have
killed expectation of coal. The Gov
ernment's Spokesman. however, are
not justifying the operators for re-
fusing to meet the miners. They
ngreed to do that last October but
now refuse. The reason for this, &C
cording to the miners, is that they
expect to make Il handsome profit on
the coal already mined and ready for
shipment. Experience has taught
that they are not above such prac-
tses. Indeed the smut of proflteering
is all over the coal situation.
A factor which should make for
early adjustment is that prices are
now so high any additional raising of
them Is likely to curtail consumption
to the demands of actual necessity.
The operators might get little more
for coal already mined but it is diff
flcult to see how it may expect to
keep those prices up. The industries
OF the country simply can't stand it
and continue to compete with coun-
tries having the advantages of
cheaper fuel.
Already the consumer Is being
robbed through the processes of over
manning and underwriting. 1t is
said that the average mine is worked
four DAYS a week when rushing"
and but two days a week when bust
ness is slack. or course a coal miner
must have big money when he does
work in order to live. Such a con-
dition would appeal to the kind of man
who only cares for a living and
doesn't wish to Work more than half
the time to secure 1t. The esprit du
corps Of men working under such
conditions must be anything but sa-
futary. although We can easily I'M
derstand that one would not care to
work everyday in the week and every
week in the year down in a coal
mine. On the other hand, men of
enterprise would not tolerate work.
ing under present conditions and it is
certain that the consumers cannot at
ford to pay the prices entailed by
such an arrangement.
II as rs stated the soft coal indus
try is capable OF mining seven hun
dred and nifty million tons when only
fve hundred and fifty million tons
are needed II Is easy to understand
that prices and wages could not be
kept up II they worked to full capa-
city.
There is something which 1t would
seem the Government might do and
that IL ascertain and make public
tho exact truth respecting this coal
controversy. Is Gompers telling the
truth when he charges that the big
financial interests are juggling with
the railroads and coal mines so that
It 10 almost impossible to tell under
which shell the pea. represented by
the profits, may be found? II people
knew the exact facts they would be
able, perhaps. to make their influence
felt. If they don't know which is at
fault, the miners or the operators
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