The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-11-26
NEW SOFT COAL
STRIKE THREATS
John L. Lewis Appeals to
President Coolidge for
u. S. Attitude.
SECOND U. S. APPEAL
Seeks Information on Possible.
Intervention in Southern
Field Controversy.

-
Washington, a. "A new bitumi-
nous coal strike threat was seen today
in the action of miners union officials
in again seeking the attitude of the
federal administration on the ques-
ton of intervening in the contro-
versy over the Jacksonville soft coal
wage agreement.
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, has asked Presi-
dent Coolidge in a letter whether as
an alternative to government inter-
vention, the mine workers themselves
might be considered justified in taking
measures to protest against what they
consider violations of the agreement.
eff it should occur that the federal
government is disposed not to intervene
for the protection of a meritorious
wage agreement" Mr.. Lewis wrote,
"might the mine workers believe that
their own efforts in that direction may
be considered as being justified"
While Mr.. Lewis second reference
of the matter to the federal govern
ment has served to focus attention
here more sharply on the bitimunous
situation as a possible complication OF
the present anthracite suspension, in
the absence of official comment there
has been no indication of change
of attitude on the question of gov
eminent intervention.
When union officials previously APP
pealed to Secretary Davis Of. the labor
department and Hoover Of the conn
merce department in their complaint
that large corporations were breaking
the wage scale, cabinet members said
that while the administration naturally
stood for the keeping of wage agree
ments, it did not consider it the
duty of the executive to enforce any
civil contract.
In his letter to the president, Mr..
Lewis bespoke the governments inter-
est in the carrying out of the three
year agreement reached last February
by recalling that it was negotiated
with the cooperation of the depart
ment of justice, commerce and labor.
Notwithstanding the acknowledged
virtue of the contract" Mr.. Lewis
wrote, "I am compelled to authorita-
lively advise you that substantial coal
producing interests, signatories to the
agreement, have violated and repu-
dated their written word of honor and
in so doing have impaired with integ-
rity of the wage structure throughout
the entire bituminous industry"
Warned of Labor Troubles.
In the face of previous warnings
by Mr.. Lewis in public addresses that
serious labor troubles would ensue if
matters were not corrected, recent
reports have indicated an increase in
the output of coal mined in former
union fields by companies no longer
operating under the wage contract.
These companies, located in northern
West Virginia, Ohio, and the central
and western Pennsylvania fields, put
aside the union scale for a lower one
after many months of part time or
no operation.
No more appeared on the horizon
today looking to a settlement of the
anthracite controversy, although Ellis
Searles, editor of the Mine Workers
Journal, reiterated in New York yes
terday that the miners were ready to
confer with the operators.
Mr.. Green plans to bring the bill
up for consideration the following
day, if the house has organized, and
keep it before the house until inal
disposition, which he expects before
tn end Of the second week of the
session.