The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-06
LEWIS GRANTED.
GOAL STRIKE
AUTHORITY
chairmen Meet and Map Out
Plans Men DO Not Want
to Quit, Chief Says
b. JAMES 3. KILGALLEN

by JAMES -. hlLNIALLEN
ATLANTIC CITY, IN. j., Aug.
|6.-The $4,000 hard coal miners
of the United States do not want
to strike September /. They want
to stay at work and support the
100000 dependent up them.
The miners hoped they could
reach an agreement with the oper-
ators. They haven't given up
hope in spite Of the crisis that
has developed. John L. Lewis,
president Of the United Mine
Workers Of America made these
statements in an exclusive inter
view with international News
Service today.
Puts Blame on Operators
Il regret, said Lewis, that the
wage negotiations with the oper.
ators were unsuccessful However.
no other result could be expected
when Representatives 81 the op.
orators entered the conference under
ironlclad instructions to concede
nothing whatever to the miners.
We had hoped the conference
would reach an agreement. We
mines may continue to operate and
our men be steadily employed"
= Yet while Lewis was making this
statement preparations were going
forward for the strike.
Forty members OF the unions ger.
eral scale committee met at the
Ambassador Hotel and authorized
Lewis and other high union off.
Gals who have been conducting the
negotiations with the operators to
issue d strike order, effective Sep.
TENDER I, in the event no agreement
can be reached.
Demands Fair Wage
The miners, Lewis continued,
must get 4 decent living wage.
AS said. the miners must work
and earn to support their families.
They are dependent upon the
anthracite industry.
"Idleness means total loss to
1hem. That il why we want
contract that will keep them EN-.
ployed. sas
but we insist that they shall
receive a fair wage. The coal
companies deny It to them
Lewis was asker what wages
the hard coal miners make.
They earn the average of less
than $1,000 a year. Where IL
the American citizen who will say
that $1,700 a year is too much TO
pay for the miner who risks his
the terrible dangers of the coal
miner"
Cites DeaGh Rate
More than 500 anthracite coal
miners are killed every year in
accidents and more than 10000
are seriously injured.
''Men who take these risks are
entitled to- wage rate that will
enable them to meet the ever.
increasing cost OF living and lay
aside something against misfor.
tune and old age.
There is nothing unreasonable
in such demands, and they must
be granted"
Lewis said it was the business
of the United Mine Workers OF
America ITO protect the interests
of the coal miners of this country
and the union proposes to live up
to this duty in this instance just
as it has in the past.
I'VE happen to know" Lewis
concluded, that the rich anthra
cite coal companies can easily grant
these demands out of their enor-
NOUS profits without increasing the
cost of coal to the consumer one
single penny.
I'VE do not agree with the theory
that the anthracite industry is here
solely to make great profits for the
coal companies.
I'VE hold that the miner and the
public have rights that must be
recognized and we intend that they
shall be recognized
AnnEcTEn TAI RAI TIAAnnE