Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-01-14
SEE COAL IN PLENTY
!. IF::.UN|ONS CURBED
West Virginia Operators De-
clare Bituminous Supply
Could Be Adequate.
TELL OF LONG BATTLE
Nom Union Associations Outline
Fight Against Rivals and United
Mine Workers.
TELL OF LONG BATTLE

The American public can always be
assured of bituminous coal in ade-
quate quantity and at fair prices, the
United States Coal Commission was
told yesterday by owners of principal
non-uniou mines in West Virginia
territory, If the commission can ar
range to prevent, forever. the union
from calling a nationwide strike"
Seven operators associations in
West Virginia whose mines have kept
continuously at work during recent
labor controversies joined in the me
mortal. which asserted unqualifiedly
that union activities were the chief
cause of disturbances in coal supply
and market prices.
IF you feel that consumers should
continue to pay present or higher
prices for COAL" the memorial CON
cluded, the miners union should be
encouraged by new concessions. If
you feel that the people are paying
prices which are too high. an effec-
tive curb should be put upon its ac-
tivitieS by removing exceptions to the
anti-conspiracy laws. and by protect
ing all American citizens in their
right to work unmoleSted under such
conditions as they elect.
Overcome Many Obstacles.
An historic account both of the de-
velopment of the non-union mining
territory and of recent events in the
coal industry. from ~the viewpoint of
the producers who presented the pc
tttion, was given the commission.
Coal deposits in the non-union sec
ton having been opened at a later
a fsNV, fn1I II
their operators having been faced
from the beginning by severe compe-
tttion of older fields. the memorial as
serted. community of interest early
developed between employers and en-
ployeS. and has been maintained by
welfare work, and by isolation of
mining camps, in spite of constant eff
forts by the United Mine Workers of
America to organize the men.
Operators in the union fields, COM
petlns with the non-union producers.
the memorial continued, had Joined the
union in it's endeavors to bring about
extension of the union. control of
workers in West Virginia. Further,
the union, itself was declared to have
proceeded to it's organization efforts in
the state with "a series OF crimes
against persons and property without
any parallel" A record of dynamit-
ing of mine entries. of killings, and of
mass attacks in non-union territory.
prosecutions was given the commission
Bitterly Fought by Unions.
The United Mine Workers Of
America is frankly and fully COM
mitted to the theory of monopoly of
mine labor in all of the coal mines of
the United States" the non-union ope-
rators said in completing the survey
and has never omitted any act. lawful
or unlawful, within it's power to bring
about that situation. So tremendous
and menacing is its power, by reason
OF the very large percentage of coal
mines in the United States it now DOM
mates. that when it arbitrarily calls
Il strike approximately 50 per cent of
the coal production of the country
stops instantly, and nothing but the
production of coal in the non-union
fields has saved the country from
national calamity"
Pay and working conditions in the
enterprises fostered : by the mine
owners were declared to be such as to
assure satisfied and contented
employees" All the facts, the memoria
said, led to the conclusion that the
forces of supply and demand, if al
lowed to operate free from the in
nuence of natural strikes, would put
coal prices and supply on a reasonably
stable basis.
Betterment of transportation IA
cilities was declared to be the only
necessary in the public interests.
Signers of the memorial were members
of operators associations of the
SmokeleSS. PocahontaS. New River
Winding Gulf, Tug River, Logan and
Williamson coal mining fields.