Evening star., 1923-08-17
Alternating Anthracite Currents.


Following the course Of past nego-
tiations. the anthracite strike discus
sion proceeding now between the
operators and miners union repre-
Sentatives, with the Federal Fuel
Commission as intermediators, Ia an
alternating current" One day there
Ia apparent advance toward agree.
ment. with the prospective result Of
continued mining. The next day there
Is check in the advance and q SEEM
ing blockade, with the prospective re-
suit Of q strike and the stoppage OF
the coal supply. Today the gloomy
side of the picture Is presented. Quick.
ly following the announcement that
the check-off question had been elm
mated and the way opened for a set
statement that the union officials were
not satisfied with the operators letter
on the subject, and questioned its good
faith, and furthermore declaring that
the waiver of the check-of does not
mean withdrawal of the demand for
SAaC icCO6iiiliou " tIc ulllOH
Back and forth swings the pendu-
lum. The public meanwhile remains
deeply anxious. The coal bins are
empty, in most cases. The prices are
high, and If a strike occurs there will
be no fuel to be had at any price.
Meanwhile public feeling is setting on
the point Of the responsibility for this
present blockade and the strike that
may result from IL. And II Is unmis.
takably setting against the miners,
who refuse TO accept the swap in
check-offs and likewise refuse to talk
arbitration on the wage question.
John L. Lewis and his associates in
command Of the miners union side
cannot afford to force the issue of
union recognition to the point Of pre-
cipitating a strike, by refusal Of arbi-
tration. If they do so they will incur
a direct responsibility for the suffer
ing that Is certain to result from coal
shortage. Just now, it is obvious, they
are maneuvering for advantage in the
negotiations. They are following IA
miliar line. Of strategy. But they are
risking involvement in a situation
from which there Is no escape.
At present the union is not recog-
nixed In the anthracite field. This pres
;ent contest Is for recognition, first Of
iali. not for wage betterment or for the
improvement Of working conditions.
Waiver Of the check-on in exchange
for abandonment Of the company
credit system by means OF check-offs
against the pay Of the miners for sup
plies, rent and other items, it Is now
contended. Is not waiver Of the de-
mand for recognition. Upon that point
the union will go to the point of a
strike, refusing arbitration. That is
to say, according to present declara-
tions. But in the next fortnight much
water will flow beneath the bridge.
In the event Of a strike the union
must maintain q system Of payments
to the idle men out OF its treasury. It's
funds cannot be abundant, consider.
ing that 1t was less than a year ago
that the miners returned to work after
q prolonged strike, which must have
drained the benefit balances. No pub
lie reports Of the resources Of these
organizations are required. There is
no way to ascertain how much money
tho union has as sinews of industrial
war. But the chances are that the
treasury Of the miners union is not
plethoric.
Can the union go to s1ike with a
weak financial position. with a weak
cause and with a public sentiment
forming against it? These next two
weeks will determine.