Evening star., 1928-03-28
LEWIS AND BEEDEN
FIGHT At INQUIRY
Miners and Operators
Spokesman DSDate Meth
DDS Of Companies.

BY the Associated Press.
Recriminations flew thick and fast
between John l.. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers, and William p.
Belden. Ohio coal operators counsel at
the session today Of the Senate coal in
vestigation committee after the union
leader had charged former Union coal
companies in Ohio with following q
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde policy toward
organized labor.
Lewis rose TO denounce several OHIO
concerns Tor investing JTOfIt5 derive d
from their union operations in non
union fields in West Virginia
He declared that while two men con-
nected with those firms had been
benevolent" toward Union labor in
Ohio at the same time they were 20
pressing uniOnism elsewhere through
such brutal methods as have been at
tributed 10 the coal and ron police
and mine guards. He described these
employees as gunner"
Seeks to Offer Proof.
Belden demanded Of Chairman Wat
son that ne be allowed Immediately 10
introduce evidence in refutation Of the
Lewis charges, assailing them as mis-
leading and false"
The miners executive. giaring toward
Belden, obtained recognition and pro-
ceeded IN measured tones.
"AI that ] can say is that Mr.. Bel
dens reply is wrong, and that Is the
mildest WORD can use"
Chairman Watson assured the opera
tors counsel that he would have the
opportunity for rebuttal at a later date.
subsequently denying the floor to T. c.
Townsend, union counsel who said hc
wanted to introduce evidence TO sub
ssantiate the Lewis charges,
Demand Is Refused
The companies nancy hy Lewis were
the M. A. Hanna Coal Co, the Y~and
Q Coal Co. the Lorain Coal g. Dock
Co. and the w. z. Warner Co. He said
that others had followed tactics sir1i-
lar to those charged against the corr
panies mentioned.
Belden exclaimed Indignantly that
representatives Of the NJ. A. Hanna Co.
we're in the room at the time. and in
sisted that they be heard but mis- de-
mand was rejected It had been pre-
viOuSly agreed that the West Virginis
situation would be disposed Of before
the inquiry revert 70 Ohio or Ponsyl-
vania. which are the other Two 5 ates
included in the scope Of the johnson
resolution under which the investixa-
ton is being conducted.
Advocacy Of Federal control Of the
soft-coal industry today precipitstec
pointed debate on s0cialization OF t1e
Nations resources among members o.
the committee.
Senator Bruce. Democrat, Maryland.
opposed the principle sId Senators
Gooding. Republican. Idaho: Wagner
Democrat, New York. and Wheeler.
Democrat, Montana. defended Il If
necessary as a last recourse 70 stabilize
the bituminous mining industry.
Percy Tetlow, president Of ehe West
Virginia district Of the United Mine
Workers, had again proposed Federal
regulation as q solution for the coal
problem. Goodiug. Who has suggested
Federal control expressed the opinion
that the situation might warrant the
extreme measure.
Chairman watson DISTINGUISHED be-
tween Government control and Govern
ment ownership. declaring that the
former did not represent Socializati0n
Former Senator Stanley Of Kentucky.
counsel for West Virginia operators.
asked Tetloxs to elaborate bis confen-
ton that Federal control would not con-
stitute socialization. which prompted
Senator Gooding 10 cite legislation for
control Of railroad prices and wages.
Proposes Fire Actions
Stanley contended that no analogy
could be properly drawn between a pub
| lie utility. such as the railroads end
private industry. such as coal rrodCc-
tiCn
Tetlow declared that bankruptcg was
sweeping through the low wage fields
The FIVE steps which Tetlow Sslo
should be made possible by Legislation
were.
Recognition OF collective bargaining
and the right of the miners to chOoSs
the method.
Relief fMoln the use Of the injunction
power 70 hinder collective bargaining.
Permission for coal companies 70 cor
soidate for q central selling agency
Improvement OF mining methods 20
conserve life and fuel
StAbilisation of selling price.