Evening star., 1923-07-29
HOT STATEMENTS ISSUED
Bituminous Operators Draw Fire of
Union Leaders.
" the Associated Press

BY the Associated PreSs.
ATLANTIC CITY, n. j., July 2S.-
In session here today to draw up
recommendations for the United
States Coal Commission covering the
soft coal industry, the bituminous
operators special committee sus-
pended business to come to the aid
of the anthracite operators with a
broadside against the check off. the
closed shop and the United Mine
Workers of America and it's methods.
which drew the return fire of the
unions big guns.
The hard coal operators were alb
sent from the city, having withdrawn
to let the government take the next
step, after the explosion of wage
negotiations with the union delegates
yesterday over the closed shop and
the check -off. At another hotel the
Washington. They did not know the
bituminous operators special COM
mittee was in the city and the state
ment hit their headquarters like
bolt from the blue.
Say Statement False.
1t was charged that the miners
assertion that the check-off was en-
forced ito the satisfaction of every
body" in the bituminous fields was
false; that the system was contrary
to the principles of Americanism and
of unionism; that under 1t the United
Mine Workers collected S17.000.000 q
year for their war chest; that it paid
for the armed invasion of West Vir-
ginia ir 1921 by 10000 men; that it
furnished 100000 in Illinois ito de-
feat justice against the Herrin mur-
derers'; that it was illegal and that
4
vented them.
The operators further condemned
the union miners leaders for re-
fusng to accept the operators pc
tition that their differences be sub
mitted to arbitration, charging their
attitude was directly connected with
this iniquitous (check-off) system"
Lewis Reply is Warm.
Mr.. Lewis reply was equally devoid
of word mincing. He declared the
special committee was not representa-
tive of 20 per cent of the bituminous
industry. as it had stated, but was
composed of non-union operators
who dominate the National Coal AS
sociation." He charged further that the
association had collected $4,000, 900
"slush fund" to fight the closed shop
and purge itself of union labor; that
j. q. Brydon, president of the National
Coal Association and chairman of the
special committee. was mont union
coal operator noted for his fanatical
mouthingS," heading a labor batting
and labor hating aggregation" which
was sworn to fight the principles of
collective bargaining.
Anthracite operators do not belong
to the National Coal Association" said
Mr.. Lewis, "and have refused to con-
tribute to the bituminous slush fund"
Their attempt to inject chem
serves into the problems of the
anthracite industry can only be char
aCteriZed as effrontery"
The special committees statement
in part, follows:
The anthracite conference has
been broken down on the insistence
of the United Mine Workers for the
check off. Mr.. Lewis proposes to
cut off the supply of anthracite Goa,
to the public on the single issue that
the operators will not consent to
collect forcibly for his organization
dues anu assessments from every
mine worker in the anthracite field
He appeals to the public for justifi-
cation of his position on the ground
that the check off is regular
feature of union contracts and has
worked to the satisfaction of every
body in the bituminous fields.
mo statement could be further
from the. truth. The check off has
proved so inimical to the steady and
peaceful production of bituminous
coal that the bituminous operators
special committee has filed a formal
request with the United States coal
Commission for the complete abolition
of the system.