Evening star., 1940-04-02
STAR WASHINGTON, D. c. TUESDAY,

important than 1t is today as other
resources are exhausted.
IT we hadn't had that coal we
would have stayed, and would be
today, a big farming and ranching
country like Brazil, and our standard
Of living would be no higher than
1t is in the countries which have to
buy most of their manufactured
goods elsewhere. 1t isn't an industry
that should be a pauper in the
country it has made great. 1t
shouldn't be on relief. It shouldn t
but today there are coal operators
In it who could break the A. A. U.
running broad jump records from
their training in always being one
jump ahead Of the sheriff, and there
are other men in it, both owners and
miners, working in the coal and the
wet In bare feet. I have pictures in
my files Of both mine owners and
miners working barefooted In the
cold weather and cold water Of the
mines and tipples OF last December.
These are extreme cases, certainly,
but they exist.
Equalizes Prices to Consumers.
The consumers OF coal of the
whole country should be interested
in this job we have been doing. ]
hope they are. We want them to
understand what this is about
When the minimum prices are in
effect coal purchasers will pay an
average Of II cents ton more than
they did before. Some consumers
won't pay more-not cent more
Those are the ones who have already
been paying a comparatively fair
price for their coal. For others, II
will be little more on some sizes
little less on others. The small
businessman who has found that
he must pay much more for his coal
than his big competitor-because OF
the power Of the latter to force the
coal industry to sell it for less than
cost-will find that most of that
difference has been wiped out. He
will have a better chance to COM
pete than he had before. This ad-
vantage to the small businessman
who is consumer of coal is a very
real and definite one.
What do the other consumers gel
in return for this? They get, first
better mine-prop under their oWr
jobs. When the mining industry
is in chaos, the 100000 people
depending on it stop buying cloth.
ing and food and cars and every.
thing else, and then the factorie.
that make goods for the mine work.
ers' families close down, and ther
their workers no longer buy much
Of anything, and 1t isn't long before
every man in the country is affected
more or less. The collapse of the
coal mining industry was one Of the
contributing causes for the depres.
sion which began in 1929.
Another thing: For the first time
in history the consumer has avail.
able to him chemical analysis OF
all the coal in the country. His
wholesaler or retailer no doubt will
have a copy of it. lining up all the
Goals on the basis of the amount Of
heat they produce, and the amount
of moisture and ash they contain
The consumer will be able to buy
more wisely and intelligently from
now on.
Relieves Relief Taxes.
In addition, the consumer gets
some relief from taxes which woulc
otherwise be spent to take care Of
human needs in the distressed area!
Of the coal industry throughout q
States.
You all know that other distressed
industries have asked for Govern
ment help Of one kind or another
Agriculture is the great example
1t has asked one administration Il
take its surplus crops of the market
loan money on them. and hold then
for better times. When that failet
to produce normal conditions, tn,
agricultural industry asked fol
further, and more direct, Govern
ment help. and received it. 1t wa
vital to the whole Nation that thi
great industry should be helped t,
stability. The coal industry ha
asked for no such help from Gov
ernment funds. 1t has asked simpl,
to be allowed to sell coal for wha
1T costs to produce it, and for N
less thar that.
These things which the consume
gets for his money seemed to Con
gress adequate reasons for prevent
ing the coal industry from selling it
product for less than it costs to pro
duce 1t. 1t is fair proposition. N
citizen wants to live of anothe
citizens hardship. Everybody i!
willing to pay price for necessitie
which covers cost without profit
They would not want to buy food OF
the bargain counter If they kne,
that would drive the farmer owe
the hills to the poorhouse. The
would not want to buy clothes OF
the bargain counter If that woul,
mean starvation for the workers VIII
make the clothes. People should no
be looking-and I don't think the,
are-to make a living out of othe