Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-13
More Coal War.

With each side declaring that the
other is the obstinate enemy of peace.
the anthracite operators and miners
representatives have broken off nego-
tiations The strike continues. Feel
ing is even more bitter than before
the resumption of conferences There
Is talk of an appeal to the Federal
Government for intervention. which
cannot be had unless new law is en-
acted. There is talk among the miners
about calling out the maintenance
men to allow the flooding Of the
mines. thereby insuring a prolonged
period Of non-production Meanwhile
the suffering among the striking
miners and their families has become
intense Business in the anthracite
district is almost paralyZed. One of
the largest department stores in that
region has gone into bankruptcy and
other establishments. mercantile and
financial, are shaky. And the con-
sumner is paying the cost of this stub
born conflict.
orators representative after yester-
days collapse OF negotiations is 10 see
the leader of the miners as a ''rule-or-
ruin" dictator, intent on forcing q sim
gle object, that Of a heavy increase
OF wages regardless of the cost to the
public. To accept the statement Of
the miners leader is to see the opera
tors as dogs in the manger, refusing
any concessions, insisting upon a one
sided form of arbitration and indiffer-
ent to the public welfare.
The operators say that Lewis in
sists upon price-tiXinE as we'll as
wage-fixing. Lewis says that the op-
orators refuse to open their books 10
arbitrators summoned to determine
the wage scale. The operators say
that they seek some way of settle
ment that will prevent lockouts. sus-
pensions and strikes. Lewis says that
the operators Knocked all prayers for
peace. In short. the formal state
ments of the two sides after the break
up of the conference indicate a COM
They are as far apart as ever. and TO
Judge from the rancor manifested by
the broadsides of blame there is small
chance of any meeting of minds.
OF course, this situation cannot con-
tinue indefinitely. There is too large
a stake in the game. The operators
have millions of property tied up with
out yielding any return. The miners
are at the point Of restitution. The
public is, with ali It's substitutions,
suffering for fuel Business is desper-
ately affected. The losses from this
strike to date have gone into many
millions, losses that can never be re-
couped.
1t is reported that President Lewis
of the union is about to make a trip
through the hard-coal region to stiffen
up the miners. Just what he can tell
them in encouragement is unknown.
He cannot give them bread or money
to pay their rent. He cannot supply
them with fuel. though they live in
the heart of the coal country. He
cannot honestly promise them money
from other sources than his own
strike funds. which are practically ex-
hausted. for there Is no assurance of
contributions from other organiZa-
lions, despite the recent appeal of
President Green of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor for donations.
The operators tell the men that they
can go back to work any day at the
old wages, with assurance of an >ad
justment through arbitration. Lewis
Will not let the men go back to work
unless the arbitration has to do with
coal prices as we'll as wages, and I'M
less there is assurance that the wage
scale will be revised upward. How
long can he hold them out in their
suffering martyrdom on this basis?
The coalusing public is keenly inter-
ested to know.
MANY ODtimiStic citizens, not con-