Evening star., 1943-03-10
Miners Go Hunqy,
Lewis Asserts as
Wage Farley Opens
Says 81 Raise Is Needed
To Provide Them With
Proper Living STANDARD
Ev the Associated Press.


NEW YORK. March 10.-John
L. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, as
serted today the coal miners of
America are hungry, and de-
manded wage increases of 81 a
day from coal mine operators.
When the mine workers chill
dren cry for bread they cannot be
satisfied with Little Steel formula, "
Mr.. Lewis said
Mr.. Lewis made lengthy state
ment on economic conditions in
coal-mining regions as the Ap-
palachian Joint Wage Conference
began negotia tons on a new con-
tract to replace the one expiring
March 81.
The coal miners of America are
hungry" Mr. Lewis declared. They
are ill-fed and undernourished be-
low the standards of their neigh
bors and other citizens. With their
dependents they number 2,5oo,0o0
Of our national population"
IlteS h1Se or 00d costs.
Mr.. Lewis said that the miners
we're victims of economic exploita-
tion and that the prices they pay
for necessities are higher than are
paid by any segment of the popula-
ton"
Mining communities retail food
prices had advanced 124.6 per cent
from August, 1899, to February,
1943. he asserted.
The union leader added that when
Illness strikes the mine workers
families they cannot be cured with
an anti-infation dissertation. The
facts Of life in the mining homes of
America cannot be pushed aside by
the fiamboyant theories OF an
ideaistic economic philosophy"
Mr.. Lewis previously had de-
nounced the Little Steel formula of
the War Labor Board which permits
wage increases Of Is per cent to
cover a rise in living costs between
January l, l94l. and May /, l942.
The union seeks a s2-per- day in
crease over the 81 base wage.
Sees So as Minimum Raise.
The Little Steel formula has the
announced intention of heading off
the imitation spiral Of wages and
prices.
Mr.. Lewis presented a long
analysis of food costs in the mining
districts, a memorandum on earn
ings reports of several large cor
porations and, in his prepared state
ment. declared:
The Mine Workers officials feel
that they have duty to perform
and that the coal industry has a
duty to perform, and that duty is
TO protect the living standards of
the men who mine coal for American
transportation service, for the heat
ing of American homes and for the
generation of power and light, and
we do not believe that anything less
than 81 a day increase in miners
wages will provide the American coal
miners with an American living
standard based upon the present.
day costs of goods and service"
Mr.. Lewis statement to the con-
Terence was delayed by a furry of
motions and counter motions in
which he asked admission of the Il
nnois Coal Operators Association.
the Indiana Coal Operators Associ-
alton and the Indiana Coal Pro-
ducers' Association, move opposed
by Charles O'Neill, spokesman for
the mine operators because OF un-
usual conditions OF competition,
different planning methods and
varying wage scales.
Mr.. Lewis argued that the oper-
stors had admitted the captive"
mines owned by the steel companies
and that these mines had less right
to representation than did the
Western mines.
He charged AN inconsistency in
attitude" on the part of operators.
Mr.. ONeill said that the operators
do not care" to include Illinois and
Indiana associations.
Observers pointed out that this
question had come up before and
that Mr.. Lewis sought inclusion of
Indiana Illinois areas to strengthen
his bargaining position.
Mr.. Lewis proposal was lost when
the conference adopted the report of
the Credentials Committee, which
did not include delegates from IN
diana and Illinois. The committee
said 1t had not considered repre-
sentatton from those States,