Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-16
Claim COAL STRIKE
BROKE. TRUST LAW
Anthracite Operators Urge
Substitution of Reason for
Force in Settling Disputes.


Salvation for the coal industry" il
not possible unless. the chapter of
history" written by the 1922 Goa
miners strike can be reversed" and i
some remedy be found "wh ereby force
IAN be dethroned and reason recog-
nzed AS ruler" anthracite coal op-
orators contended in brief filed with
The United States Coal Commission,
made public Yesterday
The United Mine Workers also made
public a statement in which they
subjected the brief to severe criti-
cism and declared that when anthra-
cite operators talk about 'hold-up'
they are treading on very thin ice "
With the strike of last year a
starting point for its discussion, the
brief of the operators asserted that
this national hold-up. by refusing to
negotiate with willing union oper
ators with whom there was dis
pute: by disrupting non-union oper-
atoms, by avoiding an anthracite set
Element. by fiouting the President of
the United States and by refusing to
arbitrate, had for its purpose the at
tanment of its ends by ruthlessly
lHHlCllnP on the pubic III Ma
grant violation of the federal anti
trust laws.
Accused of Blow Mt Public.
The refusal to permit resumption
or coal production by the producers
of 80 per cent of the nations coal
supply. on any terms within the reach
OF the parties. was not to bring pres
sure on these producers TO grant more
concessions but TO starve the public
INTO submit SSion through a protracted
coal famine
The purpose to extend the power
OF the United Mine Workers by in
ternational combinations to deprive
the American people OF coal is clear
II the report from London under date
of April IL, 1928, is true. that Presi-
dent Lewis has offered a resolution
before the executive committee of
the International Federation OF
Miners declaring in case of strike all
means should be taken to prevent
export of coal to countries involved
in strike
Fought for reason"
Ihroughout the trying days Of
1922 the operators Were lighting for
the principle of settlement by reason,
and the mine workers were fighting
for settlement by force. The opera
tors stood for arbitration in an in
dustry of great public Importance.
The miners stood for coercion by
public privation. In the end the de-
nands of a frightened public sup
ported by the urgings of public Off
Gals. led to a sacrifice of the prin-
ciple in order that the public might
have coal
Unless that chapter of history
can be reversed. unless the commits
sion can find some remedy whereby
force can be dethroned and reason
recognized as ruler. there is no sal
walton for the anthracite industry.
Nearly all other questions are sub
ordinate TO this. 1t is not as a wage
adjusting body that this commission
can best serve it's country, but in es-
tablishing durable and workable ma
chinery for the adjustment of peace
full methods of all differences that
may hereafter arise and the elimina-
tion of industrial warfare.
Would Bar Strikes.
The strike is "a legitimate weapon
10 drive an economic bargain with a
selfish employer but there S no moral
right. and should be no legal right, to
organize strikes or lockouts in basic
industries or transportation where
dlSlnterested agencies for adjustment
and adjudication are available.
A national combination. controll-
ing coal production, whether it be Of
employers or employees. which dsre-
CARDS the public interest and willfuHy
seeks to produce a coal famine by re-
fusinE to arbitrate industrial disputes
deserves correction and regulation at
- -
eminent which is unafraid can do no
less than meet this issue. If society
has right to protect itself against
abuses in the coal industry, here is
occasion to act. If this major prob
lem goes unremedied. there is no con-
siStency. in proposing remedies for
minor problems
Mine Workers Comment
The comment of the United Mine
Workers on the brief follows:
IF ever there was an unconscionable
hold-up it is the one that has been
inflicted on consumers of anthracite
IN the last several months" the union
statement said. 1T costs around 81 a
ton to produce anthracite at the
mines. but the consumer is compelled
to pay SIG to SIT a ton for that same
coal. It. the anthracite operate
really wish to put stop to hold-up
let them begin at home and relieve
the consumer of a. part of this i'm
position The miner receives but a
very small share Of this SIG or SIT.
He is not responsible for the gouge
of the consumers pocketbook. The
coal consumer would like to know
who gets this money. The anthracite
operators could tell him. if they
would.
And when these operators raise
the question of monopoly they are
again on thin ice. for one of the
greatest and most powerful monopo-
lies in America is the anthracite coal
business. There is such an intricate
interlocking of coal companies. an
rhracite railroads. scales companies
wholesalers and distributors, all con-
trolled and dominated by the same
identical interests that the anthra-
cite business is a gigantic. scientific
monopoly. fact we'll known for
many years. 1t the anthracite com
panies are in earn est in their demand
for correction and regulation of the
Anthracite monopoly the United Mine
Workers of America will be happy.
indeed. to help them to clean it up
Possibly, once that were accomplish
ed. this monopoly would be forced
TO reduce the outrageous price which
the consumer now is reolired m nav