U M. W. A. WILL APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT IF NECESSARY HOPE TO AVERT FUEL FAMINE. Frank J. Hayes, President of the United Mine Work- ers, and John P. White, Labor Advisor, are in Washington to confer with Dr. Garfield. i Hayes is determined that the responsibility for next winter’s fuel shortage as a result of the inefficiency of the Fuel Administration shall not rest with the miners. Although he would not commit himself, it is known that the miners’ chief intends to carry the organization’s protest direct to the President should Garfield fail to act. f INDIANAPOLIS, Rivalry between individuals clothed with authority through appointment by President Wilson to control essential indus- tries necessary to the conduct of the war to outdo each other in “making good,” will not be tolerated if the officials of the United Mine Workers can impress the President that such a state of affairs ultimately will operate as a menace and ham- per the prosecution of the war. Responding to the message of the Executive Board of the United Mine Workers, protesting the inefficiency of the Fuel Administration, Director Garfield expressed his willingness to meet President Hayes and other officials immediately. Equally important as a complete change of policy by the Fuel Administration, as Miners’ officials view it, is the question of railroad coal. For years, in fact ever since the coal indus- try supplied the transportation arteries of the nation with fuel, the railroads have been securing their coal at a less rate than in the case of the manufatcurers and domestic consumers. The government now controls the railroads, and supervises by rigid regulation every phase of coal mining and distribu- tion. The railroads have been given a guarantee as to what their margins of profit will be. given no assurance of a definite, fixed margin for any period. Rumors indicate that the rivalry between directors gov- erning the control of railroads and control of coal has reached such a state as to make the success or failure of each of the di- rectorships dependent upon the decision of the president. Officials of the United Mine Workers are not willing to submit without protest to being victimized under a ‘“squeeze- play” that such rivalry might ultimately bring. They insist that the railroads should pay the price for coal fixed by the Fuel Administration, regardless of the sue- cess or failure of the government to show unusual economies in the management of the transportation systems of the nation. Protesting the attempt of Director-General McAdoo to hammer the price of coal below a productive cost price, Presi- dent Hayes, Vice-President Lewis and Secretary Wm. Green sent the following message to President Wilson: . “We are informed that it is proposed that coal operators shall supply railroads with fuel for less than government fixed selling price of coal. We are of the opinion that if such action is taken it will have a demoralizing effect throughout the coal industry and materially lessen production. A maximum out- put of coal at all the mines throughout America should be main- tained in order to meet in full the public necessities. We sug- gest that the government selling price be maintained uniformly throughout the country. Based upon our knowledge of the mining industry and the attitude of the mine workers who pro- duce the coal, we urge that all consumers of coal, including the railroads, be required to pay the selling price of coal fixed by the government.” Split in Fuel Administration Imminent. In two days the mine workers have repudiated and upheld the Fuel Administration. The Executive Board stated plainly its inefficiency, the international officials uphold Garfield’s con- tention that the railroads must pay equally with other coal consumers. But the fact remains that Dr. Garfield must agree to a safe, sane reorganization of present administrative methods, or the officials of the United Mine Workers will take the case of the people, the consumer, directly to the president, and ask that he take the matter in his own hands and remedy the pres- ent menacing evils. For two months Advisors Peale and White, although they will not permit themselves to be quoted, have been wondering just what the term “advisor” meant. Both know coal. They know the industry. They know coal problems. They are practical and if given the degree of consideration that the in- dustry originally thought would be their, would have solved many of the difficult problems that remain unsolved. Friends of both Peale and White are teeming with disgust as a result of the indifferent consideration given their practical knowledge to permit the theoretical ‘“dilly-dalliers,” who are a part of the fuel administration, to try out their impractical pet ideas. : During the week resignations may result. For some time a rumor has been current that Dr. Garfield intended to resign as soon as everything was in working order and the adminis- tratiton had succeeded. It is now evident that that time will never come if the present method of doing business is continued. In the case of White and Peale, observers believe their de- cision hangs in th balance. Lewis Detects Weak Spot. John L. Lewis, vice-president of the United Mine Workers, detects the weak spot in the program of retail distribution. “Where is the fifty per cent. of the people who can not afford to spend a lump sum out of their earnings going to get the mon- ey to store the coal necessary to avert a fuel famine?” The vice-president further inquires, “Are we to promote knowingly the distress and suffering of last winter?” “The money contributed to charitable agencies during the winter of 1917 to provide coal for the poor would pay several times the interest on the necessary capital to enable the retail- ers to supplg the poorer classes on a credit basis without raising the price of coal.” “But there isn’t any use of creating new committees, state, county or municipal, to provide funds to store the necessary? coal during the summer. “If the bankers, and others financially able, want to do a worthwhile, patriotic deed they will see to it that the legitimate retailer receives such financial backing as to enable him to con- duct summer-time distribution of coal as will consume the full- time, maximum production of the mines.” The telegram of the International Executive Board to Gar- field, in full, follows: Indianapolis, Ind., April 13, 1918. “Dr. H. A. Garfield, “Federal Fuel Administrator, “Washington, D. C. ; : “Assuming to speak directly for the half million coal min- ers affiliated with the organization in order that a like fuel THE The coal industry has been| SEER AGI WARIS MEYERSDALE, PA. a : SEEREIEIRRETBEDERDEBEEBIEE RECOMMEND POPBEEIIRIEES General oy, - WW WW, SSSSSSSH : Hon. L.S. “REPRESENTING | OF PLAIN A A == Herman QG. Lepley For Representatives in the A. Lindstrom : For State Senator, ~ For Representative in Congress, 23rd Pennsylvania District. PEOPLE Assembly. [ellinger THE VIEWPOINT CW EVERYWHERE.” PIPPI IPIZITPIIA Ee A A es Be 2 PP PIPPI a FIO ITIZI A PY FP FPF VIA SP . EE 4 CSS SSS SSS SS SSS OSES SS TES SSS SSS SSS Ss £5 risi last winter can be averted this year the International dT of the United Mine Workers of America, now in session, directs this too graphic communication to your at- tention. ; ; “Prior to the official Jeelnpation of mor the Untied Mine ed full co-operation to all government agencie Woon ls a 1 production would result. Since the creation of the Federal Fuel Administration you are aware ‘hat we have fulfilled our pledge. We have and do now rec- ognize that the fuel administration has full and complete au- thority to regulate the coal industry in every particular. With this understanding we are calling to your attention the serious- ness of many obstacles hampering production, which have created an acute situation, and which if not promptly and ade- uately remedied are sure to result in a coal famine the coming winter: that will upset every productive calculation of manu- facturers of the essentials of the wara nd result in untold suf- fering to the people, even exceeding the crisis of nineteen sev- enteen. Just now with very natural condition favorable and when every possible effort should be put forth to mine, trans- port and store coal the most unsettled condition in the history of the industry prevails. Coal production is far below the na- tion’s lowest possible estimated requirements. Mines in the states of Iowa, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyom- ing, Montana and West Virginia are working less than half time, and in many mining towns large producing mines are actually shut down. Several hundred local unions affiliated with the United Mine Workers of America suffering protracted idleness have been forced to ask exoneration from the payment of dues. (This is stated solely to reflect the actual condition). Like the deplorable condition existing in September and Octo- ber of nineteen seventeen, thousands of coal miners are suf- fering for the necessities of life; not because they are not will- ing and desirous of working, but because the opportunity is not afforded. Miners Leaving Mines. “Miners are leaving the mines in the industrial centers where the car shortage shows no signs of improving. If this exodus of miners to other lines of employment is permitted to continue, full car supply and the most satisfactory distributing facilities provided later on would be destined to failure, be- cause after all there is but one answer to the solution of the coal shortage and that one answer is COAL. Production must be maintained at a maximum if the public consumption equals a maximum production or a shortage is inevitable. This great patriotic and solid organization of workers in the basic indus- try of the war stands ready to dig from the earth all the coal that could possibly be used for all the possible needs of the na- tion. It is able and eager to break all records in the produc- tion and distribution of coal if given the necessary facilities and the right spirit of co-operation. The best evidence of this fact is the record production of nineteen seventeen under the most trying circumstances. The international district and lo- cal organizations have subscribed for approximately two mil- lion dollars of the three Liberty Bond issues. We want to help with all our force in the present crisis—not hinder. But we feel that the outlook for an adequate coal supply is of such grave concern that we must for the protection of the mine workers employed in the industry and as a public duty call to your at- tion what we are constrained to believe a menace to the hope of providing sufficient coal. Almost every day coal prices are changed in the whole or'part of some state. Distributing agen- cies are annulled as they exist, or restricted or so completely changed as to upset every stable calculation. Whenever the prices are lowered in any, state the operators affected immedi- ately ask for a hearing. This invariably results in decreased production until the operators’ appeals are definitely deter- mined. When prices are raised the coal miner naturally feels that he should receive a proportionate amount of such increase. This condition has created an unrest that nothing short of a stable, permanent price arrangement can satisfy. We are in- clined to the belief that the stabilizing of prices for production and every agency of distribution will have to be brought about before the coal industry can reach that degree of efficiency necessary to supply the needs of the times. The miners feel that they have not received that degree of consideration in ad- justing the affairs of the industry and the promulgation of poli- cies that rightfully is theirs. Every order issued by the fuel administrattion, whether directed to production or distribu- tion, ultimately affects in some form or another the miner who mines the coal. Therefore we feel it our duty to ask the fuel administration that a greater degree of consultation be given the half million of our members through the organization’s representatives in order to promote the most efficient and ef- fective co-operation. : “In conclusion we wish to assure the fuel administration of full co-operation whenever and wherever permitted, and ex- press the confident hope that no exigency of overwork or multi- plicity of duties will divert your prompt consideration of the important matters set forth herein. “On behalf of Executive Board, United Mine Workers of America, “Frank J. Hayes, President, “John L. Lewis, Vice President, “William Green, Secretary-Treasurer. i! “Chrg U. M. W.of A.” Sil rN AY bd Th: eh am dn An ~~
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers