Evening star., 1934-04-12
WAR" IS THREATENED.
Alabama Operators Spokesman Raps
N. r. A. Orders,

AN' Ass "a OsoSiSs
BY the Associated Press
Alabama coal operators today stood
fast on threats to start q civil war"
in the bituminous fields rather than
accept N. r. AS demand for q seven
hour day and higher wages.
In q sensational climax to q storm
filled three-day hearing on the ques-
tions, Forney Johnston. representing
the Alabama operators. last night
charged Hugh S. johnson with "arbi-
trary, illegal and unwarranted" action
in approving the new schedule.
For q moment fisticuffs between the
Alabaman and John L. Lewis, heavy
set leader of the United Mine Work.
ers. seemed imminent when Lewis ac-
cused Johnston of attempting to
"browbeat" members Of the union.
Prefer "Civil War;"
As the hearing neared its close,
johnson had requested an opportunity
to make q statement and, after being
accorded the floor, said:
"As between civil war in the indus
try and subsection Of the industry to
three pro-consuls working through .
military ringmaster, We prefer civil
war"
Lewis described Johnston's state
ment as "bombast"
THE Alabama coal operators are
not quite ready yet to declare war on
the United States" Lewis said. but
If they feel they are. the United Mine
Workers are ready within IS days to
furnish the president with 20 Army
divisions Of men to help force the
Alabama operators to comply with the
law Of the United States.
II doubt II 1t will come to that,
however"
Prior to April I the Alabama coal
operators negotiated a contract with
the United Mine Workers providing
for . basic daily wage of S3.40. Under
the order approved March 81 by Gen.
Hugh s. johnson, recovery admin
istrator, the basic rate for Alabama
was raised to $3.50. placing the Ala
bama miners on a parity with other
sections Of the South.
Charges Code Violation.
Insisting upon immediate assem-
bling of the National Bituminous
Coal Industrial Board to consider the
order establishing the seven-hour day,
Johnston said the amendment ap-
proved by Recovery Administrator
johnson violated every basic princi-
pie and covenant of the code" so far
as the Alabama coal industry was
concerned.
In particular" Johnston said,
that action junked and violated
every basic study of fact assembled
by the administration at great ex-
pense both to the administration and
to the operators"
johnson said he referred partic.
ularly to statistical data as to the
industry's operation under the code.
The flare-up at last nights session
followed closely another important
development of the day-a recon-
mendation by . special committee set
up by Secretary Perkins Of the Labor
Department that the work week in
the anthracite industry be shortened
to 80 hours.
The Perkins Committee, composed
OF DR.. Carter Goodrich, Columbia
University economist; Hugh 8. Hanna,
Of the Labor Department, and David
J. Price of the Bureau of Mines, rec
commended that the anthracite code,
still incomplete, empower the code
authorities to require distribution Of
work between mines in the same area
so that more miners might be given
work during periods Of unemployment.
As an alternative to the equalization
of production the committee recon-
mended . work week Of four days of
eight hours each, holding that It
would accomplish many of the pur-
poses Of equalization while still leav.
ing q somewhat freer choice to the
companies.
The committee said the latter plan
had the great advantage Of being
the one method Of attaining . meas
ure Of equalization that could be most
quickly and simply applied"
Union ohcials expressed agreement
with the anthracite report In prin-
ciple, hailing II - - constructive step
In the right direction"
Lewis, however, said the union was
opposed to the 32-hour week.