davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-03-29
CRISIS In COAL INDUSTRY
LIKELY COME THIS WEEK
Hundreds of Mines Expected to Be Closed
After April -Bituminous Industry De-
clared Operating Under Heavy Losses.

ent wage scale Miners are idle by
the tens of thousands throughout
union territory. In non-union terri
tory miners are enjoying a temporary
period of great prosperity, but not
so their employers. Non-union op-
orators have cut their prices, in hot
competition, to the point where most
orders nowadays mean losses. They
are taking business simply to hold
their forces until a new deal can he
worked out
Hard Coal Strike Feared
Behind the whole situation there
looms the possibility of an anthracite
coal strike this Fall. Bituminous and
anthracite prices are linked together
in markets where they are competi-
tive for industrial purposes, and with
I cut In bituminous miners in the
meantime. the anthracite workers
Will be faced with a prospective cut
in the Autumn
Nobody knowing the prosperous
condition of the anthracite workers
who have been free from the ills of
the bituminous men, believes that the
hard-coal workers will take a cut
without a strike. And if they don't
take it, can anthracite operators sell
their coal in competition with bitumi-
nous for Industrial use?
Soft coal operators thus far have
firmly refused to take the initiative %
bring about a new wage scale in the
union fields. Obviously the leaders
of the miners can't take the inftiative
without tremendous loss of prestige
among their constituents. And so the
situation has rocked along to the
point where non-union coal has run
away with the best of the comment
tive union market
But to seize union markets, nom
union operators have had sucn COM
petition among themselves that thew
have shorn prices of almost eyery
point of profit. As a result the en-
tire industry, union and non-union.
is Fastening to a situation where mo-
body in the trade. or out, can foresee
what Will happen. The present CON
dition is regarded as intoIerabIe
Evening star., 1925-03-29
HENRY FORD.

keep out the goods of other countries
If we so desire. But ], for one, do
not favor that narrow, provincial pol
icy. l am for free trade, unrestricted
and unhampered, among the nations
of the world. The free, natural, un-
hampered and unrestricted trade be-
tween the 4s States of the United
States is a perfect demonstration of
the line that world trade should fol-
low. And such a course will be fol-
lowed when we come to know that all
tinkering and monkeying with nat
ural free trade hurts and restricts all
legitimate business and industry.
such world trade, based on labor
and fair exchange of goods and no
favors, does not need armies and
navies for it's protection. 1t needs
only the good will and confidence of
friendly neighbors, who have been
helped and not hurt by it's develop
Evening star., 1925-03-29
BY \. o. MESSENGER.

NY Y DIRK of the Government de-
M partments in Washington
" " is eing increasingly
drawn to the attention of
the country in a degree
which is calculated to be sustained
throughout the approaching Summer
and Fall. Year by year the volume
| of work done by the departments in
creases and it's Importance becomes
more appreciated by the public.
review of what lies before the great
executive departments and the bu-
| reaus and commissions created under
| them shows busy months ahead.
In the order of their creation, the
State Department lies at the head of
| them all. Maintenance of happy in
ternational relations at all times is
| the chief function of the State De-
partment, but at this time the State
Department is carrying out a cher
ished policy of the Coolidge admins
tration, which is, indeed, a carrying
| on of one of the Harding administra-
ton, in undertaking the assembling of
another international conference for the
| Limitation of naval armaments. This
project is likely to attract world
wide discussion, the official announce
| ments showing that the work of pre-
liminary negotiations has begun.
Treasury Studies Taxes.
The Treasury Department has also
cut out program of activity which
will fall under the constant notice of
| the public, as it will have a bearing
| upon agriculture, finance and bust
/ ness. The Treasury is to work hand
| in glove with the ways and means
committee of the House and the
| finance committee of the Senate on
| the preliminaries of a new tax reduc-
. tsx.,- 1T
with eagerness by every one who
pays tax. Secretary Melons friend
liness for legitimate business is very
earnest, and his department will as
| sist in every way in it's power to con-
! serve financial and industrial sta
| bility
The Department of Justice and the
Treasury Department have overlap
ping jurisdiction of the prohibition
| question as a whole, although their
| activities and detail are separated and
| do not clash. The Treasury Depart
ment will more vigorously enforce
the laws against smuggling of for
hidden liquor acorss the borders and
| into the ports of the United States.
The Department of Justice will sus-
| tain the prohibition unit aggressively
| in the Treasury Department.
Watches "Big Business,
1t is the duty of the Department of
! Justice to keep an eye on big busi-
| ness and see to it that it does not be-
come oppressive through combina-
tions. 1t is the declared policy of
| the administration not to harass
| legitimate business, and the indus
| trial world need have no fear of any
| trust busting" drive. The Depart
| ment of Justice will be hampered in
| the enforcement Of the prohibition
| law by the action of the New York
Legislature last week in defeating all
| the pending bills before that body
| designed to give State and local aid
| to enforcement of the national pro-
| hibition law.
| Politics was mixed up in the action
| of the Legislature, the we'll known
Democratic policy being to place the
| whole burden of enforcement on the
| Federal Government. 1t is the sup
posed belief of the Democratic polit-
| ical organization of the State to be
that the predominant sentiment of
Evening star., 1925-03-29
Veterans Protest
Action by Fascist

Italian buddies who form the War
Veterans Association are wondering
about the meaning of the phrase ito
mix in politics. For mixing in poll
tics" is the reason given by the Fas-
cist government for dissolying their
elected central committee and ap-
pointing three government commits
sioners Gall members of the Fascist
party) to take it's place.
For a long time the Veterans Asso-
citation was openly loyal to the Fas-
cist party. But after the Matteotti
murder the veterans met in Assist and
passed resolution, naming no names.
but in a general way condemning
murder, expressing loyalty to the
italian constitution, and uttering the
hope that Italy might enjoy a reign
of normality and law.
In the Fall the veteran squadron
marched not on the anniversary of
the Fascist march on Rome-October
28-but on the national anniversary
of Vittorio Veneto. They were attack
ed and beaten by Fascist rowdies, The
Fascist then initiated an intensive
boring from within" campaign 70
elect a Fascist central committee. The
veterans, however, voted confidence
in the old committee and in the prin-
cipleS OF the Assist resolution. The To-
cal delegates were about to gather in
Rome for the annual convention to
re-elect the old central committee
when the government forbade the
meeting.
Then came the decree dissolving the
committee and removing the officials.
The grounds given were that an or
ganizatfon receiving State support
(the association has a war pension
department with the support of State
funds) must not engage in politics.
The majority of the veterans profess
to be puzzled. when we were openly
for the Fascist party" they say, 1--WE
were out Of politics. When we declare
for no party, but only for king and
constitution and normal legal gov
ernment, such as Mussolini promised
we are mixing in politics."
Evening star., 1925-03-29
REDS SCHEME TO EMBROIL
GREAT POWERS In STRIFE
Failure to Stir Trouble Between j. S. and
Japan Over Sinclair Oil Deal Reveals
Sinister Policy of Soviet.

pose to give business, commerce and
finance some of the rights common
in civilized countries turned out to be
mere fiction. The Soviet state con-
tinues automatically to control every
thing in Russia No one can do busi-
ness there without doing 1t with or
through the Soviet government.
Such American wares or produce as
are exported to Russia are bought,
paid for and owned by the Com
munist overlords, to have and 20 hold
as they please.
Every now and then more cautious
voices are raised within the Red gov
ernment, favoring some genuine con-
cessions to "capitalism," and the con-
version of the "NEP" program from
q pretense into reality. These voices
argue that only in maintaining hon
orable economic relations with for
eign countries can Russia be estab-
lished on a foundation that will pre-
vent bad from going to worse in its
economic life.
Effort to Stir Fight.
The thinly disguised maneuver to
incite tho United States and Japan to
fight over the Sakhalin oil conces-
sion shows that Soviet leaders have
of setting other nations by the ears.
The main purpose of that policy is
to distract attention from Communist
propaganda and thus hasten the dawn
of the Moscow-govern Soviet
world republic"
The Sinclair Sakhalin affair has, if
anything, strengthened the United
States determination to hold aloof
from Russia. 1t is fresh proof of the
contemptuous regard Of Moscow for
pledges either OF commercial or po-
litical character. It can be stated
without qualifications Of any kind
that Secretary Kellogg. with Presi-
dent Coolidge's support, stands ex-
actly where, Secretary Hughes stood
and where Secretary Colby stood
Senator Borah's position, too, remains
unchanged. With respect to the plan
for commission to examine the
question of Russian recognition, SEN
ator Borah believes recognition ought
to precede such study. Borah sees
no advantage in treating with the
Soviet unless 1t is treated as ian
equal comforting with equals" Presi-
dent Coolidge would only favor recog-
milton after. through a commission or
by some other means, 1t was de-
termined that Russia has definitely
Evening star., 1925-03-29

ment. No, the so-called saturation
point in the automobile industry is a
myth. So far as we are concerned,
production of cars has only started"
Mr.. Ford was asked If the basic
automobile construction principles
used at present are likely to continue.
Perhaps. But who can tell? Change
is the order of both life and industry.
I see no revolutionary basic changes
in sight. But If the wireless trans
mission of power becomes a reality,
for example, the whole industry
might experience complete change.
Only future developments and dis
coveries can answer this question.
II am primarily interested in build
ing lives and homes" he went on,
when asked as to his reason for buy
ing out all the stockholders of the
Ford Motor Company. I'VE really
have no place for the non-working
Evening star., 1925-03-29

simultaneously the ranks broke, the
smoking flares were cast into a, single
huge bonfire while the various organ
izations marched past and flung the1r
flares upon 1T; and in 10 minutes, al
most, the vast square was practlcally
emitted 1t was we'll nigh Impossible
to believe that there ever had been
a. demonstration; that the whole cpl
sode was not some fantastic dream
Yet surviving all was the enduring
sense of the orderliness, efficiency,
organization and determination OF
these thousands of boys who came
out to give a silent testimony to the
fact that there was at least meas
ure of reality and vitality to the Ger
man Republic, to the idea of the re-
public.
Memorial Service Held.
The next day was in many respects
but a repetition of the previous Sun
day. Crowds filled all the streets
and as the day was also the annual
occasion where Germany honors her
dead of the war, the memorial day OF
the German Republic, ceremonies
were held in all the churches, and
there were pilgrimages to all the
cemeteries. Yet outwardly I saw but
one real demonstration, and that was
in the Lustgarten On the spree
Island facing the old royal palace
and fronting the great and hideous
Baroque Church. which was one OF
the landmarks of the last reign.
Here, facing the great church and
in the depression before the long
steps, some thousands of people, man.
ifestly those who were unable to get
inside for the exercises, gathered
hrtdOa
could get the sound of their singing
that impressive, amazing outpouring
of the German soul in music. Stand
| ing bare-headed, paying honor to the
1000. 900 German soldiers dead in a
| lost war, these people gave a feeling
| of a collective emotion, totally differ
ent from that of the previous night
vet perhaps equally significant of ma
tional psychology.
Monuments Not Touched.
Then. the song finished, the crowd
broke up silently. Orderly the peo-
| nile streamed in various directions;
! neither their faces nor anything in
their manner suggested what they
thought, nor suggested passion OF
| bitterness Moreover, strange cir
| cumstance to me, although the
! square was filled with monuments OF
heroes of other and victorious wars
| not one of those monuments had been
decorated. There was no centra
point, like the Strasbourg statue or
! the place de la Concorde in Paris
! which had for half century been the
! place of pilgrimage of French patri-
| otism; there was nothing to suggest
the lost war, the lost provinces. Not
| even Frederick the Great, surveying
all from a nearby square, was hon.
ored by a single wreath.
AS the crowd was dispensing there
came abruptly the only incident OF
the "a hours which I witnessed
! Sweeping suddenly across the Spree
CONTINUED on Third Page.)
Evening star., 1925-03-29
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

~ ED Russia's attempt to embroil
the United States and japan
N over the Sinclair -Sakhalin oil
Y concession is part and parcel
of the Soviet governments
new international policy. That pol
icy. it has long been known In Wash
ington, is to keep 'capitalistic ma
tions," especially first-class powers,
at loggerheads, and, If possible, to
goad them into war. The Communist
ideal Of q world revolution" Moscow
cynically calculates. would flourish
like a green bay-tree while Imperial
istic peoples" were flying at one
another's throats. On the ruins of
their economic life and domestic
tranquility, the 'tSoviet world repub-
lie" would rise triumphant and in
vincible. Nations like the United
States and Japan, could they be in
cited to fight over oil, would, accord
ing to the Moscow program, be SO alb
sorbed in war that they would have
no time to observe or counteract
Communist schemings. Short Of war,
Moscow's schemes call for tension and
constant threats of war.
Feature of Policy.
There is no doubt in well informed
quarters at Washington and other
"capitalistic" world capitals that sys-
tematic Indictment of international
strife has now become a fixed feature
of Soviet policy. 1t springs from a
spirit of self-preservation. The Com
munist system will complete in No
vember. 1925, the eighth successive
year of its existence. Insiders know
that it is a continually precarious
existence. although so bulwarked by
ruthless terrorism that no elements
have yet arisen in Russia capable of
violently overthrowing it. What the
Bolshevist czars fear more than an
internal counter-revolution that would
smash Communism Is the natural dis
integration of the Soviet system
through inherent rottenness-whGt
Secretary Hughes once called "the
progressive impoverishment of the
Russian people,"
"NEP'' Mere Fiction.
How to ward off creeping paralysis
is, therefore, the Moscow govern
ment's paramount problem. Lenin
made a pretense OF introducing the
system of limited capitalism. the So
called ''NEP" program Cor new eco
nomic policy,) but its purported pur-
Evening star., 1925-03-29
Masaryk Enjoys Reading.

President Masaryk of Czechslovakia
is an Industrious reader His reading
room is piled with books, newspapers
and periodicals, of which he reads
regularly nearly 500. These include
the Prague newspapers, many Czecho-
slovakian newspapers, several news
papers from neighboring countries,
including Russia, also English and
American dailies. Thus the Czech
president keeps informed of world
events Despite his rs years, he
rides two hours nearly every day
Evening star., 1925-03-29
Oil Deal Denied.

With regard to the reports from,
Moscow of the conclusion of a con-
tract between the Soviet government
and the French ministry of marine for
the delivery of $4,000 tons of mazout
(crude oiD. Reuters correspondent at
Paris is officially informed that nego-
tiations for the contract are being
continued between the ministry of
marine and the Soviet embassy in
Paris but that hitherto no agree
nat hes koen reached.
Evening star., 1925-03-29
BY HARDEN CoLFAx.
Z HE long-awaited crisis appears
finally to be on the point of
overtaking the entire bitumi


overtaking the entire bitumi-
nous coal industry throughout
the United States, according
to advices reaching Washington this
week. The industry is reported to be
in a condition bordering on chaos,
with an immediate readjustment of
its affairs imperative-but not in
sight. Developments of a spectacular
nature may come at any time.
These. 1t is thought, will have but
relatively little effect on other in
dustries and the general financial
situation, as the coal industry's plight
has been slow in its formation, is
generally recognized in financial cir
cles, and has been almost thoroughly
discounted by them.
According to authentic reports,
scores of coal companies at the pres
ent time are passing or have passed
through bankruptcy, and hundreds
more face the prospect of doing so.
Hundreds of union mines contemplate
closing down permanently April J..
Operators everywhere are fighting
desperately for what business they
can get, s1ashing prices indiscrimf-
nately and taking orders at a loss in
the hope that something unforeseen
may develop soon to help them. One
big operator took a mammoth order
this week for run-of-mine coal at
$1.10 a ton; he will lose thousands of
dollars, and admits it.
Many Mines Closed.
Some of the trouble lies with the
present wage scale, according to the
operators of union mines. Union
officials deny this, but are reported
to be trying every expedient to bring
about a joint conference with opera
tors to work out a solution. In a
final burst of desperation the
Government has been asked infor-
mally to take the lead in bringing
about such a. conference, but has de-
clined. Neither miners nor operators
are willing to take the initiative, al
though both realize that present con-
ditions cannot continue.
Some operators have asked their
employees to accept wage cuts, and in
several cases they have accepted dis
regarding the present contract, which
runs to March 81, 1927. Other OPP
orators are adopting the eXpedient
of leasing their mines to lessees, who.
of course, are not bound by the con-
tract with the union, and can go
ahead with the making of a. new
contract Still others, notable among
them being the Pittsburgh Coal Co..
are closing down their higher cost
mines and concentrating on working
those mines where 1t costs less to
bring coal to the surface. That COM
pany closed down 18.
Back Of 1t all is approaching, with
a certainty regarded as inevitable in
the trade, a readjustment Of the pres
Evening star., 1925-03-29

turned it's back on Communism and
confiscation." Until that is done,
American recognition of the Soviet
is as far off as 1t has ever been since
the Reds first seized power at Mos
COW in November, 1917.
Copyright, 1929
Evening star., 1925-03-29
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR BUSINESS?
No. 1.-The Automobile Industry Seen by Henry Ford
Europe Hold

stockholder. He Is usually more in
terested in dividends than in men. II
at any time 1t became a question be-
tween lowering wages or abolishing
dividends, / would abolish dividends.
1t is bad financial. policy to reduce
wages, because 1t also reduces buy
ing power You see, there is no
charity in wages"
Here we see Henry Ford, the dream
er of practical dreams..in action.
There is something sacred about
wages" he continued. They repre-
sent homes and families and domestic
destinies. People ought to tread very
carefully when approaching wages.
While on the cost sheet wages are
mere figures, out in the world wages
are bread boxes and coal bins, baby
carriages, children's education, fam
lily comfort and contentment. Keep
the home happy by keeping the shop
busy Profits-what are they if they
are not used to make doubly secure
the home, dependent on the shop, and
to create more jobs for other men?''
Evening star., 1925-03-29
In a Reflective Mood.
Ford became reflective.

Mr.. Ford became reflective.
Money is tool. 1t is just d part
of the machinery. One might as well
a hundred thousand dollars, if the
trouble is inside the business. More
pumps will not cure it, neither will
more money. Borrowing to cover
waste or mismanagement, or both, Is
just like a drunkard taking another
drink to cure the effect of the last
one. 1t makes the condition only
worse.
Take the case OF the railroads
There is scarcely a railroad in the
United States that has not been
through ono or more receiverships
due to the fact that the financial
interests piled on load after load of
securities until the structure grew
top-heavy and fell over. Then they
got in on the receivership, made
money at the expense of the gullible
security holders, and started the same
old pyramiding game all over again.
Emcfency vs. Money.
"The natural ally of the banker is
tho lawyer. Such games as have been
played on the railroads have needed
expert legal advice. Lawyers, like
bankers, know absolutely nothing
about business. They live on rules
The bankers took finance out of the
hands of the managers. Instead OF
operating under the rule of common
sense and according to circumstances
4 y.
advice of counsel Rules spread
through every part of the organiza-
ton. Then came the avalanche OF
State and Federal regulation, until
today we find the railroads hog-tied
in mass of rules. With the lawyers
and financiers on the inside, and the
various State commissions on the out
side, the railway manager has little
chance. That's the trouble with rail
ways. Business cannot be conducted
by law. Bankers too often think
solely in terms of money. They think
of a factory as making money, not
goods. They want to watch the
money, not the efficiency of produc-
ton
Tomorrow: "Ford's Forevision OF
Finance"
(Copyright, 1925, in the United States, Gan
ada and Great Britain by the North Ameri
can Newspaper Alliance. All rights reserved