Evening star., 1928-03-09
OPERATOR UPHO[DS
LABOR BARGAINING.
Tells Senate Inquiry Group,
However. "DiCtation" Will
Be Fought.
b. the Associated Press.

The principle Of collective bargain
ing was upheld before the Senate coal
investigating committee today by Frank
E. HERMAN, president Of the Clear
field Bituminous Coal Corporation. a
subsidiary of the New York Central
Railroad Co. who at the same time took
q decided stand against what he termed
collective dictation" by the United
Mine Workers
The distinction drawn by HERMAN
precipitated short clash with Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, Montana. In an
swer TO the Montsnan the coal operator
said he believed in organized labor 80
long as the labor is our own workers" 3"
He denied that 1t was proper TO assume
that President Lewis of the United
Mine Workers represented the union
miners in the Central Pennsylvania
coal region as much as the president OF
the New York Central Railroad repre-
sented the railroad.
Says Arbitration Refused.
Herr:ran asserted the United Mine
Workers would never arbitrate. but al
ways insisted on having their terms
met under threat Of strike.
Pressed by Wheeler. he said he be-
lieved in the general principle Of or
Eanized labor and agreed that the
union organization had done much 10
Improve general working conditions.
HERMAN asked that the "contented
miners" now working in his fields be
allowed 10 testify as non-union men,
;us; as the union was represented. Sem
a'or Gooding. Republican. Idaho as
sured him any such witnesses as he
desired would be summoned.
Denial that miners wages were re-
euceo by the Pittsburgh Coal Co in
1925 because Of his desire TO make a
GOOD record" as chairman Of the board
Of directors was made by w c. Warden
Of Pittsburgh
Contradicts Mine Chief.
Warden. who succeeded f. 3. Mel, n
as chairman OF the board. fatty con-
iraoicted the previous testimony of
John l. Lewis, president Of the United
Nine Workers. on this point. He said
he had talked with lewis in March.
1925, about reducing the miners wages
ano ADDED that no such remark about
wanting TO make good record" in his
new position had been made.
The wage reduction was proposed on
account Of the Door returns OF 1924. he
said, but this was due to economic con-
cI,ons and not TO r. B. Melons adj
naintStr3tion.
Warden testified that the breaking of
the Jacksonville wage agreement was
nrst brought up before the board of
directors in May. 1925. and that he
advocated an open shop operation of
the mine. He was supported BY unani-
mouse vote Of the board. he added, ans
u was decided 10 60 back to the 1917
wage scale
Opposed by Donaldson.
C-oss-exar1ined by Oliver K. Eaton,
union attorney. Warden said that his
policy had been opposed by John A.
Donaldson. vice president OF the Pitts
burgh Coal Co. and that Donaldson
had left the comoany as result Of the
decision of the board
Senator Couzens. Republican. Michi-
gan, asked whether legal opinion on
the validity of the jacksonville agree
ment" had been available before the
company abrogated the instrument and
Warden said that an oral opinion had
been rendered TO him By Don Rose the
company attorney. The opinion" he
said. was that We we're within our legal
rights in making the change"
Questioned further by Eaton the coal
operator said the surplus OF the Pitts