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
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Herman QG. Lepley
For Representatives in the
A. Lindstrom
: For State Senator,
~ For Representative in Congress,
23rd Pennsylvania District.
PEOPLE
Assembly.
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THE VIEWPOINT CW
EVERYWHERE.”
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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
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