Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-26

Recalling disastrous labor battles of
the past in American coal fields, the
public generally halls the recent agree
nlent between anthracite coal miners
and their employers as victory OIL
peace, The verdict Is that everybody
wins, including the public. Peace in
the mines, 1t Is believed, will extend
the use of hard coal, while the ap-
prevail of the check-off, desired by the
unions, is balanced by the creation OF
a permanent committee to adjust dif-
ferences without delay.
The check-off Is viewed by the Phila-
delphia Evening Bulletin as system
which twill save the union much ex-
pense in collecting dues and incidentally
aid it inestimably in preventing losses
of membership" That paper describes
the permanent committee as a body
which will "set up sort OF self-gov-
eminent within the industry, which
should be of service to the operators
in maintaining mutually satisfactory
working conditions during the five and
one-half wears for which the new agree
ment is to run" The Bulletin con-
cludes: "Quite apart from the direct
effects of the new agreement within the
industry, the public will rejoice to see
that its employers and workers have at
last reached the. stage OF recognizing
that the only way to escape regulation
by Government was to undertake regu-
lation by themselves"
1t is pointed out by, the Scranton
Times that "the agreement for a
check-off of dues brings to an end a
demand launched back in 1902, which
was refused by the Anthracite Mine
Strike Commission, and consistently
turned down by operators at every
wage and working agreement confer
ence since" The Times refers to the
use of the system in the bituminous
mines and continues: THE long fight
over the check-oh emphasizes that
most victories by labor have been only
achieved after years of effort and COM
promise. Recognition of the United
Mine Workers of America in the max
ing of contracts with anthracite oper-
ators was not achieved until 1920.
Previous to that time contracts were
signed by union officials representing
the Anthracite Mine Workers Of Penn
sylvania."
"The coal industry could not afford
another disagreement nor strike" de-
clares the Albany Evening News, record
ing that 1.-The public has reason to re-
member years when disagreement re-
suited and strikes occurred or were
miners have realized the folly Of more
strikes, which have been costly to the
industry and contributed to the intro
duction of substitutes for anthracite"
AYERS the News.
"The soft coal fields" suggests the
Newark Evening News, "have heavily
fallen away from the United Mine
Workers as result of general par
ing down of wage scales in the disor-
Az mil i1d
The News thinks they will have reason
to envy the ability of the hard coal Sec
ton to maintain its wage levels" and
continues: Hard coal, though less i'm
pregnably intrenched in public favor
than 1t used to be, remains an article
OF limited supply while soft Goals album
dance makes it drug on the market.
AS wage levels average in the closely
organized industries nowadays. the an
thracite scale is not at the peak 1t once
occupied in comparative wage levels.
The demand for equalization of en-
ployment attests other evidence that
this scale does not mean the same as
sured return IL once meant to the work
ers in non-strike years. The scales
maintenance, in line With modern
American industrial practice. indicates
hard coal will not be among the. COM
modities most susceptible TO price-de-
ChIlC AiAActlCCS IIOW OPCAdSAhs. Ah aLiC
presence of that trend, however, the
concession of a workable means of meet
ing changing conditions is the feature
of Importance to the operators in the
new contract"
II X -
''It is subject for general rejoicing"
comments the Harrisburg Telegraph.
that the settlement has been made
without the necessity of pay reductions
There are many other economies in the
industry that may be effected, but to
have insisted on a wage cut even in the
face Of adverse business conditions.
would. have meant trouble eventually, II
not n&w, There ought never to be an