Evening star., 1925-07-10
Coal Strike Threat Laid
To Expansion of Industry

Threats of coal strike in both an
thracite and bituminous fields have
turned public attention to the ques-
ton OF wages and to competition be-
tween union and non-union mines
Some observers believe that there are
too many mines for the good of the
industry, and that better conditions
for the miners and for the public
would be made possible by diverting
a certain proportion to other indus
tries.
"As if 1t were not enough that a
worldwide coal slump faces the an
thracite field" says the Philadelphia
Bulletin, the demands of the mine
workers for 10 per cent increase of
wages, on top of the biggest increase
of wages that any industry in Amer
lea has enjoyed as a result OF the war,
come very close to being reckless. The
leadership of the United Mine Work
ers is strangely blind to the economic
conditions significant to their indus
try. Persistence in the demand for
higher wages is simply counting dis
aster."
Doubt as to the purpose of the
union leaders to force a strike is ex-
pressed by the New York Journal of
Commerce, which declares: Certainly
there is not the slightest warrant for
any such action. In the first place,
the men are already receiving hand
some wages. Rates are so high, in
point of fact, that they have materi-
ally helped to curtail consumption and
render employment, even in the an
thracite field, none too abundant. And
fully as important in the second place
is the fact that employment condi-
So
that the unions there are tending to
disintegrate seriously. and that the
union leaders, accordingly, are hav-
ing their hands full to deal with the
situation as it stands. A more chart
table Interpretation of the words of
the union officials would be that the
workers suspected the operators of
planning drive for lower wages
X X X
'"The mere suggestion of a strike in
the anthracite fields" declares the
Baltimore Evening Sun, 'is enough
to arouse such nervousness among
consumers as will insure accelerated
movement of the stocks on hand. But
this sort of galvanism may or may not
be beneficial to the industry in the
long run. A certain proportion of the
consumers will hasten to fill their bins,
but others will take steps to substitute
some other fuel, and If the substitute
proves satisfactory, they will never
again become customers of the anthra-
cite producers. A demand that if
either side disregards its responsible
ity. "all of the forceful agencies
through which public opinion makes
itself heard ought to be marshaled in
defense of the interest of the con
sumer" Is made by the Providence
Journal which also remarks: THE
public demands that both operators
and miners shall keep in mind through
out their negotiations that the anthra-
cite industry is essentially a public
enterprise
A suggestion that there are too
many mines and too many miners Is
made by the Lynchburg News. which
asks: "Since the Federal Government
has been able to dissolve trusts.
should it not have the equal right to
cornpel amalgamations?" Some such
action, the News believes, might offer
the solution of the troubles Of the coal
business.
Another phase is emphasized by the
Morgantown New Dominion. 1T is
significant says this paper. that
no other large union whose members
produce a commodity attempts to i'm
pose a Nation wide scale. The United
Mine Workers leaders steadfastly re-
fuse this local autonomy. The largest
coalproducing companies in the coun-