The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-27
WAR ON HUGE
SCALE LOOMS
IN COAL FIELD
Unions Back Rocky Noun
tain Fuel Co. in Colorado,
to Uphold Pay Rate.
PRICES, WAGES SLICED
Labor and Employer Join
in Unusual Pact to
Battle Octopus
BY WILLIAM III. BAILEY
United Press STAFF Correspondent

DENVER, Colo, Aug. 27.-A price
war unequaled even in the turbu-
lent history of the Colorado coal
fields appeared imminent today.
With coal prices in Colorado al
ready at a point said to be the low
est in twenty years, non-union oper-
ators were reported preparing to
meet the challenge of the United
Mine Workers of America and the
Rocky Mountain Fuel Company.
The latter have declared a unique
cooperative agreement to maintain
wages at 1929 levels, and to mine
and market coal to meet any prices
set by non-union operators Of the
state.
Competitive non-union companies
in the northern field, where the
Rocky Mountain Fuel operates its
mines. already have instituted one
reduction of from so to rs cents a
ton, wholesale price. This reduc-
ton came just prior to the an
nouncement of Is per cent mine
wage cuts by the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company, controlled by
the Rockefeller interests, and five
others of the states largest opera
tors.
Cuts Held Necessary
Ostensibly, there have been no
price cuts since that time. Oper-
ators contend that the wage cuts
were made necessary by the low
price of coal, extreme competition,
and general business conditions.
Their price lists, they declare, are
the lowest in two decades.
It is common practice throughout
the coal industry in Colorado, how
ever, to make special reductions"
and discounts" from published
prices.
Labor organizations throughout
the state charge the large c"eratorS
with having cut coal prices volun-
tarily as an excuse for subsequent
wage slasheS.
Miss Josephine Roche, president
of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Com
pany, in statement to the United
Press, declared her company would
meet any price SCI by the non
union operators. She said this was
to meet the price war by which
the non-union operators ere at
tempting to break down the union
wage SCALE" The statement mdl-
Gated her acceptance of the labor
viewpoint.
Lines Sharply Drawn
Union operators contend the price
cuts were forced upon them.
Unbiased neutrals see the price
war as battle between two sides
of industrial thought-with the
highly unionized and employee
Cooperative Rocky Mountain Fuel
Company on one side and the non
union capitalistic system operators
on the other.
The Rocky Mountain Fuel Com
pany's organization, instituted by
Miss Roche when she gained con-
troll of the company in 1928, has
been epitomized as radical" by
some business leaders of the state.
1t, has been predicted that such
organization, where the employees
have a very real and vital voice in
the operation of the company, could
not long exist under twentieth CEN
fury competitive business condi-
tons.
Battle to Finish
That section of Colorado society
which has named itself progressive"
hailed the organization as an out
standing example of the trend in in
duStrial relationships. The organ
ization, they declared, would stand
after the capitalistic form had
fallen.
Today it appeared the two forms
were aligned definitely in a bat
tie to the finish.
Economists and industrial lead
ers of the state watched from the
si6elines, interested spectators in
the first out and out contest be-
tween the old and the new.
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