Evening star., 1936-06-16

pldll lS JOIlil
Lewis. president of the United Mime
Workers, perhaps the most skllllul
and able of all the leaders OF organ
fzed labor for many years.
The measure before the committee
Is a revised version of the Gudey law,
which was declared unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court recently. The
new bill proposed to regulate capital
ism by delegating to the operators OF
coal mines and the miners union
complete control to fix prices OF coal
in America, so that consumers OF neat
light and power will have to pay the
prices designated.
It is significant that the so-called
Ia bor provisions which the Supreme
Court said we're invalid now nave
been omitted, but in their place some
thing more important has developed
representation of Ia Dor unions on
Government commission in which
operators shall also have their repre-
Sentatives. The two together will then
receive from Congress the right TO flx
prices OF the coal used in interstate
commerce
What Lewis Said.
II Congress refuses TO obey, sno
ALREADY President Roosevelt has given
his sanction TO the proposed law,
strike of general proportions Is threat
ened by Lewis. The verbatim language
Of Lewis before the Senate committee
tells the story. He said:
Now. as the quid pro QUO OF sup
porting this bill, the United Mine
workers agree that the bill should
provide for representation OF the
workers, as such, by two members OF
the commission. Why? Merely be-
cause the right to Ak the price levels
of the industry carries with it the
right to fix the wage structure and
the living standards OF the WORKERS
in this industry. And we think our
people have more right to be heard
in the courts of last resort, as affect
ing this industry, before these prices
are fixed. That is the reason we want
two representatives of labor on this
enlarged commission of seven
There ensued discussion in which
Senator Wheeler expressed the opln-
len that it was unprecedented TO have
representatives of employers and en-
ployes on a commission regulating an
Industry. He insisted that the repre-
sentatives of the miners and the oper-
stors should divest themselves OF any
financial connection with the coal in
dllstry itself, and this amendment now
has been put into the bill that was re-
ported from the committee TO the Sen
ate. But they will not cease, of course,
10 speak and act for their respective
groups.
Lewis Threat.
Then came the threat from Lewis,
who declared:
''Mr. O'Neill speaks with authority
for the operators, and he says that
without the bill the United Mine
Workers cannot be expected to main
tain their wage scales in the industry.
IF this bill is not passed and if
these operating groups in certain
areas follow that practice which has
been prophesied by Mr.. O'Neill-snd
l think his prophecy is sound one
then the United Mine Workers OF
America will consider that the basic
wage scale has been preached, and
then we are going to fall back on the
only weapon we have in the common
defense of our homes and our well
fare in our several communities. II
that contract is preached, we are
going to shut down this industry
while some one talks about what Is
going to be done
The idea of group Of employers
and the leader of a huge labor union
getting together and threatening
shutdown" of an industry unless
the right is given them jointly to
Ak the prices of a commodity is
something new In American history.
II the precedent is accepted in coal,
there is no reason why the same
tactics will not follow in other basic
industries.
Affect Bituminious Only.
II develops that the new Gudey
act is confined to price-f1xing OF
bituminous coal and does not AFFECT
lignite-a competitor of coal-and
does not embrace other fuels, like
oil, natural gas, anthracite coal or
hydroelectric power. None of the
latter is to be regulated as to prices,
so If the higher cost to the consumer
Of bitun1inous coal results in d.
rrinished consumption of that prod
uct the resultant situation must lead
either 10 regulation of the competing
pFoducts or chaos in the coal in
dustry itself.
Although the coal business Is a
vital factor In modern industry, 1t
Is significant that very little opposi-
ton is coming from big business.
The reason may be that many big
business men are at heart fascists and
want regulation II they can partici-
pate in the price fixing Or "stabiliza-
ton as they sometimes characterize
It,
Alternative Available.
About 18 per cent of the revenue
Of the railroads is tied up in coal
carving. Public utilities are large
buyers of soft coa.. So are apartment
houses and hotels. Increased coal
eOStS IlAcu ny LAic oOFCAAAAAASiAo iaS'Ai
higher prices to the consumer. What
then is the answer to the problem
Of the coal industry? THE answer
is to be found in the famous Ap-
pslachian case decided in March.
1888, by the Supreme Court. Sales
agencies and cooperative activities
Of coal operators are urged as means
of eliminating expense and of increas-
ing the consumption of coal. AS busi-
ness improves, more coal will be con-
sumed in industry, but If prices of
coal 10 higher, the result must be
decreased use of coal less freight
revenues for the railroad and more
unemployment for miners, especially