Evening star., 1928-03-27
OUTLINES FIGHT
FOR COAL MARKET
Head of West Virginia Miners
Scores Operators Com
petitive Tactics.

By the Associated Press.
The competitive struggle between the
Southern and Central bituminOuS min
ing fields for the Northeastern and
Northwestern markets was outlined to
the Senate coal investigation committee
today by Percy Tetlow. president of the
West Virginia section Of the United
Mine Workers.
The union leaders contended that the
West Virginia operators had conSpired
to break the collective bargaining prin-
ciple. even though they were having the
advantage in the winning of markets
through a favorable freight rate diff
ferential and ability to produce good
quality coal cheaper by reason of a
lower wage scale than prevailed else
where
Il could never understand the reason
behind their fight on collective bargain
ing in view of these facts" he added
Tetlow said that 95 per cent of the
coal mined In the southern West Vir-
ginia fields went to markets outside the
South lie then launched into de-
nunciation Of the system Of police COM
missjoned by the state but paid by the
operators
Says Police Power Is Abused.
Police power has been abused in
West Virginia more than any State I'm
the Union. he continued, largely he
cause the operators do not believe in
the union or collective bargaining
The union leader also criticized tbe
system Of company stores. chareinq that
miners IN West Virginia were prohibited
irom purchasing elsewhere Senator
GoH republican. West Virginia. attend
ing the inquiry for the first time in
CURED whether Tetlow knew of an in
stance where mine employe had been
dlscnarged for dealing away from the
company store. ''''
on. yes. replied the witness. there
Is no doubt OF that"
me West Virginia Senator who re-
turned TO Washington last night after
reeuperating in the South from his re-
cent Illness, followed Tetlow's presnnta-
tion closely.
Living Wage" Demanded.
The union leader then declared tina,
his organization had engaged in a fight
TO maintain a living wage" for the
miners ever since the decision of the
coaI commission for a 81 per cent in
crease in wages
ne night To reduce wages" he went
on. started among operators in Kama
wha County. w Va They decided NOT
70 renew any wage agreement unless il
carried reduction. which was opposed
by the United Mine Workers. From
TINS one spot has grown this tremen-
dous struggle, because the operators in
this county decided they could not COM
pete with the Logan County operators
a closed nqr-union county. paying a
lower wage scale
Except 10 say that we need legisla-
tion. Tetlow was unable to suggest
speclilc remedies for the coal problem
Gov. Fisher Temporarily Excused.
AT the outset OF today's hearing
Chairman Watson announced that .he
second invitation for Gov. Fisher of
Pennsylvania TO appear would be yos.-
poued due TO the large number Of Wit
uesses already called 1t has heen de-
ciaed 70 complete discussion Of the West
Virginia situation before 'cverting 10
Pennsylvania or Ohio Watson also de-
MED published reports that the COM
mittee is considering calling Henry Ford
as witness
The conference between John l. Lew
Is, president OF the United Mine Work
ers, and officers Of District No / srom
Scranton. Pa. will be resumed here.
Internal affairs Of the district are
under discussion but no announcement
has been made Of any conclusion that
might have been reached at The FIRST
meeting last night. II Is understood
that Lewis has informed Rhaldo Cap
pellini, president 0f the district. that
he would not act in the con.rov,r ,rsy cen
teriDg around Pitts1On. Pa, except In an
advisory capacity