Evening star., 1933-09-23
Code for Coal Producers
Sets Place of Leadership

Adoption of a code for the soft-coal
| industry is welcomed by the public as
the most important development of the
recovery plan. Continuing labor trou-
bleS. it is suggested in comments, are
likely to be baniShed, while future pro-
ceedingS. under the leadership of the
Government, may meet the problem of
too many mines and too many
workers.
The code may be the solution needed
Of the labor difficulties in the opinion
of the Lincoln State Journal, while the
Youngstown Vindicator calls it ''one Of
N. R. AS most promising develop
ments." and voices the belief that If
it works out as anticipated, it will rid
the industry of evils which were carry
ing it to destruction" The Rutland
Herald believes the regulations may
save the industry from absolute ruin"
The Cleveland News declares: by
bringing peace to the most sorely dis
tressed industry in America. it repre-
sentS progressive economic adjust
ment that has few parallels in history"
The News adds that problems genera
tions old apparently have been ad-
justed."
The New York Sun sees IAN end Of
the strikes, disputes and conferences
which have dragged along for nearly
three and a half months" but con-
sidering peace for the whole industry.
remarks that hardly more than 80
days ago an officer of one coal COM
pany asserted that the adoption OF a
single basic code for the coal industry
North and South. was an impossibility :"
The Sun, however, feels that the code
comprises all the features regarded as
most acceptable to the largest majority
of the industry"
Giving attention to the position OF
the Southern fields, the Jersey City
Journal comments: 1.-TWO of the major
controlling factors. which will yet play
big parts in the success or failure OF
the coal code, are the drastic sectional
results which are feared by the South
and the rivalry of substitute fuels. The
price of coal may be expected to mount.
The natural inclination of many fuel
consumers, then, will be to consider oil,
gas and even electricity. And the South
anticipates now the closing OF coal
mines, because Northern fields which
were unioniZed will not have to increase
pay (Since contracts continue in force( 3,
whereas the pay increases in the South
will mean that many Southern coal
mines will hardly be able to sell coal IN
competition with cheaper Northern
coal The sectional difficulties, how
ever serious are the problems involved
in potential loss of all livelihood In
large coal districts, will eventually work
themselves out if the rivalry of other
fuels does not cripple the entire indus
try too severely
Emphasizing the fact that one coal
company favored suspension of opera
tions pending "a better understanding
of the code," the ConneHsville Courier
expresses fear of serious interference
with the progress we were beginning to
make" and continues: 1T will be
most unfortunate if this suspension Is
prolonged. 1t is hoped. however, that
it may be avoided. that complete un-
derstanding may be reached on the
code issues, and that when mining is
resumed it will continue without inter-
ruption from any cause, but will con-
tribute in larger measure than for many
years to making our prosperity more
permanent and participated in by all
our citizens"
1T is noteworthy" in the opinion Of
the Chicago Daily News, that the ad-
ministration has been much more chary
of limiting its power to effect changes
than it was in either the steel or the
draw their voluntary approval of the
code after April l. 1884, but the infer
ence is that the Government may con-
tinue the codes existence after that
date and punish dissenters as if they
were non-signers of Blue Eagle
agreement" The New York Times con-
cludes: "The industry has been placed
in a better position to prevent destruc-
tive price-cutting within its own ranks,
and to substitute cooperative action
for the compulsory anarchy imposed on
it by the antitrust laws Of another
generation"
1T may, II there shall be judicious