By SAMUEL GOMPERS American Federationist

Again the anthracite coal operators resort to Ivy Lee's system: Note the full page display advertisements in newspapers of the largest cities announcing in diplomatic terms to the general public that should the anthracite coal operators agree to wage increases, they would levy upon the pocket-books of the consumers for their indemnity. In 1903, when the miners made a determined stand for higher wages and better conditions of work, Ivy L. Lee organized a publicity bureau for the coal operators. He recently described the purposes and methods of that bureau thus:

question-How can the operators afford to spend so much for publicity if they can afford nothing for wage increases? Of course, the miners cannot spend similar sums to reply to the perversions and misleading statements of the operators. But where the publicity system is understood, it will fail to persuade or convince the American people. It was Ivy Lee who formulated and patented the gentle "art of getting believed in." It was Ivy Lee who suggested the possibilities of this art to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for the repeal of the "Full-Crew Law" and to John D. Rockefeller in the Colorado strike. The fundamental principles of the art are, "The people do not reason; they are led by symbols and phrases; they can be controlled by publications which supply them with ready-to-use ideas and convictions. But," warns the publicity agent with cynical craft, "we must be very careful what terms we allow to become lodged in the public mind."

"An experience in the anthracite strikes of 1903 will illustrate this idea: The miners asked for a standard rate of wages to apply to all collieries. It seemed monstrous to the operators. They therefore took the actual pay sheets for certain mines and applied the proposed rates to the actual rates then being paid. They found and so stated specifically to the public that in some cases the men's demand called for wages three times as great as were being paid. That announcement was shown to a railroad president and he said, 'What is the use of putting out anything of that sort? The people want to know about the whole thing and not about a few petty details.' had hardly uttered that suggestion before the evening papers were on the streets with such headings as 'Miners Ask 150 per cent. Increase in Wages.' Now, if you give me the headings, I give you the articles and edi

will

He

torials. Any man reading that heading would immediately jump to the conclusion that the miners were a set

of hogs."

Ivy Lee's methods.
the display advertising space amounts
to millions and naturally raises the

Again the coal operators are using
The expense of

It's all a game to the Ivy Lees who devote the skill of their wits to tricking the people for a price, of course. They try to pull the wool over the people's eyes and then lead them toward the desired conclusions. That is what the anthracite coal operators are trying to do through their purchase of display advertising space.

The working agreement of the miners with the mine operators expires April 1, 1916. The miners presented their terms for a new contract which included:

A two years' agreement providing for an increase in wages, an eighthour workday with time and a half for overtime and double time for Sundays and holidays, recognition of the United Mine Workers, a more speedy, simple, direct and satisfactory method of adjusting grievances,