Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-01
A CLUB OVER OUR HEADS


cratic maker and manipulation OF
wealth in a petulant mood exclaimed
1.-THE public be damned" He may
have felt that what he proposed was
right, that the public did net know
what it was grumbling about, and
he may not have been far wrong at
that. Nevertheless those words were
hanged about the neck of autcCracy
in public utilities until it became TOO
great a burden for autocracy to bear
and the public interfered by means
of regulations, in some instances to
the detriment of all concerned
Organized labor has now adopted
the public be damned policy. 1T
NAV think it is right, that what it
claims belongs to it. The average
run of human beings are not trust
worthy in the matter of fixing their
own valuations, of determining linn
its to their ambitions. Sucl regu-
latory force must come from out
side. either by competition-thc real
regulator in the long run-or by way
of laws and commissions, rarely II
ever satisfactory.
Right now there appears to be
large, some say predominant, ele-
ment of the United Mine Workers
of America cnamored of the IDEA
that the public needs an even mere
Impressive illustration of scarcity or
fuel than was given last winter.
They seem to think that after the
people have suffered enough they
will lie down and stick their feet up
for the United Mine Workers to tie
at their leisure.
This matter for very serious con-
sideration is brought to mind by tho
report that the head Of the mine
workers organization mas just re-
turned from abroad bringing assur-
c.nce that the foreign organization OF
miners will not mine coal to be sold
in the United States To- keep our
people from freezing. This material
ly aggravates the situation we tX-
perienced last winter. Perhaps
further evidence, though more ap-
pears to be needed, regarding the
threatening conditions may be had
from the report which the anthra-
cite operators make to tie United
States Coal Commission. While this
Is made in support of the operators
position it includes statements which
1t may be assumed cannot tie con-
troverted successfully, surely the
operators would hardly be so ill-ad-
yised as to make such a mistake.
It declares, and gives the public
utterances of President Lewis Ut the
Mine Workers in confirmation OF
the statement, that for over decad"
the Mine Workers have had as an
objective the expiration of agree
ments between miners and operators
occur all over the country on the
same date. In accordance with this
the union ordered discontinuanoe OF
production March 31st, 1922. This
affected the entire unionized mines,
100 per cent of the anthracite and so
per cent of the bituminous. CO.
ordinated with this was the effort to
stop production in the non unionized
mines.
The operators declare that about
80 per cent of this strike was SYM
pathetic with trouble had with
operators producing about one tenth
Of the nations coal supply. After
reviewing the conference between
the anthracite operators and the
miners the statement concludes:
1.-THE evidence is clear that negotia-
lions were not being carried on sim
cerely and that there was no thought
In the minds of the union leaders of
reaching an agreement or avoiding
a strike. The public must have no
COAL" And the public did not have
coal sufficient to needs. The oper-
ators further contend that: I'm the
end the demands of a frightened
public, supported by the urgings of
public officials, led to the sacrifice Of
principle in order that the public
might have coal"
sAou ILLS Il6Htlully cHtltIeu. ".
efcion by public privation"? We
think so. 1t is all in line with what
President Harding said in his report
to Congress: 1.-THE simple but sig
nificant truth was revealed that ex-
cept for such coal as comes from the
districts worked by nondrganized
miners. the country is at the mercy
OF the United Mine Workers."
How many would like to be at the
mercy Of the mine operators? Not
many. surely. But is there any rea-
son to suppose we can expect any
more mercy from the Mine Work.
ers? Are they less likely to be as
intelligent and far-seeing in their
selfishness as are the operators?
This seems probable. But think
what kind OF people we must be to
submit in a matter Of necessity of
life to being at the mercy of a few
thousand men! Doesn't 1t make us
contemplate in our own eyes long
to submit to such condition?
A subscriber commented, the 9TH
er day. on the fact that one may get
gasoline at convenient stations all
along the way from Kittery to Fl.
Kent. though this important product
has to be transported at great ex-