The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-02-22
Geneva Coal Conference
ITO Be Continued)
By GUSTAV soBoTTKA (Berlin).

THE Geneva Coal Conference began on jan
uary and ended on January IL. The
course of the conference has plainly shown
how the mine owners and their governments
in the various countries regard the question
of regulating working hours in the mines.
Every capitalist representative spoke in favor
of regulation of working hours, but regu-
lation such as he would like to have for his
own country. 1t was the representative of
German mining capital, Dr.. Jungst, who de-
clared most openly for prolongation of the
working day. He stated that only in the case
of compelling necessity would the frightening
of the working day be considered, but that
such necessity might arise. Germany does not
yet know how the Young Plan will affect its
economy, therefore, he argued we could not
tie our hands and renounce the employment
of one of the means which in given case
would render it possible for us to fulfill the
obligations laid upon u.s.
The representative of the Polish mine
ers, DR.. Falter, declared that Poland is suffer
ing from over population and therefore can
not accomplish so much as the other countries
in the sphere of social policy. The repre-
sentative of the Polish government, Mr. Sokal,
also spoke to the same effect.
Mr.. W. r. Smith, representative of the
English Government, declared that his gov
eminent is urgently DESTROYS that hours of
work and also wages and other conditions in
the mining industry should if possible be
settled internationally in the near future
A miserable role was played by the repre-
sentatves of the Miners International They
were all in favor of the seven-hour day, but
this should be voluntarily granted by the mine
owners and the capitalist governments. What
the latter think of this proposal was shown
by the vote taken at the end of the conference.
The proposal that seven-hour day be fixed
was rejected by all the representatives of the
mine owners and governments. A further
proposal in favor of seven and half hour
working day was likewise rejected 1t was the
German Government representative who was
responsible for the turning down of this pro-
posal. He declared that he could not vote for
it as the underground Ignite mines in
cuded in this convention. This was not the
real reason for the rejection as the Ignite
mines in Germany in which the workers are
employed underground are of quite minor inn
portance. The real reason for the rejection
of seven and half hour day by the Ger
man Government representative is the desire
to retain the or 81a hour working day in
the mining industry.
After the seven and the seven and half
working day had been rejected the Dutch rep
resentative brought forward the proposal that
hours be fixed at IA. The vote on this sug-
geston proving tie, it was not adopted.
Thus the comedy at Geneva reached an end
with which its reformist wirepullers are highly
dissatisfied The "Vorwarts," the organ of the
German social fascists, writes that the con-
ference was wrecked owing to the resistance
of the mine owners, while the workers showed
complete understanding. Quite right! Tho
social fascist representatives of the workers
showed complete understanding for the wish
es of mining capital, and mining capital wants
an eight to nine-hour day and not reformist
phrases.
The miners Of all countries can, however,
once again see that the conferences are in
tended to deceive them regarding the true
state of affairs. The seven-hour shift cannot
and will not come by means of international
agreement, but the miners in the different
countries must win it by determined fight both
on national and international SCALE