The Washington times., 1923-08-27
STRIKE WOULD
CAUSE SLIGHT;
LOSSES
Editor of Coal Magazine Says
Country Has Ample
Fuel. Supply.

ANDREW T. Murphy, editor of
the Black Diamond magazine, a
leading trade journal of the coal
industry, is familiar NTH eVery
phase of the present coal situation.
In the folI01Oing article, sOritten
exclusively for International NeGOs
Service, he sets forth his Uie1Os
relative to the deadlock.
By ANDREW T. MURPHY.
Editor of the Black Diamond.
written Exclusively for international
News Service.)
The breach which is gradually
widening between the anthracite
mine owners and their employees has
caused a great deal more anxiety
and apprehension among the pub
lie than it should, to my way OF
thinking.
OF course, a strike is a serious
thing. But, even If the members
of the United Mine Workers Of
America who work in the hard coal
fields do decide to walk out Sep.
TENDER 1, such action will affect
the general public but little. 1t
possibly may have to pay a slight
ly higher price for anthracite coal
or a substitute.
Large Supply in Storage.
There is a plentiful supply Of
anthracite coal in storage. There
will be more soft coal used. If the
public is willing to put UP with
the slight inconvenience occasioned
in using the bituminous product,
then the country will hardly know
there has been a strike. The sup
ply of soft coal on hand in the
United States at this time Is suf-
ncient for even the most rigorous
winter imaginable.
The average citizen resents the
deadlock which has developed be-
tween the anthracite miners and op-
orators over the check-off particu
larly. Unless John L. Lewis, pres!-
dent of the United Mine Workers Of
America, recedes from the adamant
stand he has taken in regard to re.
fusing to submit the differences of
the hard coal miners and their EN-.
ployers to a board of arbitration,
expect the Federal Government in
its promised statement fixing strike
responsibility will place the blame
squarely upon the United, Mine
Workers shoulders for suspension
Of mining.
The political angle OF this contro-
versy should not be overlooked. /
don't. think Mr.. Lewis personally
favors such an iron stand as was
taken by the miners organization.
But, since the majority Of his asso-
ciates seem to favor a bold stand,
Mr.. Lewis, naturally is going to
attempt to carry out their wishes.
Miners ALLEVIATE Sympathy.
I am of the opinion that If
strike eventuates, the miners will
not have 1an1.over-supply Of PUBLIC
sympathy with them. The refusal
Of the miners. to submit their differ
ences to arbitration, coupled with
the fact they would not agree to
work pending a future settlement Of
their disputes on q retroactive basis,
doesn't exactly set we'll with the
public as a whole. And the "check
off," which is one of the miners
pet objectives-well, the public does
not feel that it is an important
enough issue to prompt a strike,
with winter just around the corner.
What the operators will do IL the
miners walk out, will depend large
ly upon the attitude of the Coolidge
Administration. If officials at Wash.
ington adopt a 'hands off" policy,
it is probable the operators will
battle to a finish to put the industry
on an open shop basis. They prob
ably will feel that 1t would be for
the best of all have it out now and
thus obviate the necessity for a
similar conflict two years hence.
The possible strike Of hard coal
miners is only drop in the bucket
compared to a real strike in the
bituminous fields which is bound
to come March 81, next, If the an
thracite suspensions take place. Such
development is one that should
cause America deep anxiety and
bring the earnest effort of all to
avert such fuel famine calamity.