United labor bulletin., 1914-07-04
FEDERAL ENJOYS
ISSUE STATEMENT
Hope For Peace by Concilia.
ti0n Route
VIII Soon Submit Their Plans to 0per-
at0fs and Union Strikers in a
Way to Avoid Embarrassment .s

In order that their powers to settle
the Colorado coal strike may be thor
oughly Understood. Hywel Davies and
William K Farley, government commits
sioners or conciliation representing Sec
rotary OF Labor Wilson, have issued a
formal statement in which the scope of
their inyestigation is given. The state
ment follows:
The mission of federal commission
er OF conciliation is to investigate the
CAUSES OF labor disputes. and if the con-
clusions warrant any suggestion that APP
peais to either or both parties of the
controversy it is their duty to place
tbemselyes If desired) at their service
he federal commissioners came to
Colorado carly in May to find out. if
possible. the underlying causes of the
strike that has disrupted the state. Nat
urally. our first duty was to investigate
and get Al the facts. We have endeav-
ored to do this by personal visits to the
different mining camps, also by verbal
and printed interrogatories.
Have Approval of President
..Thronghout we have been received
with every courtesy and every facility
necessary to reach an intelligent con-
clusion. Jar as we have gone. Answers.
to our printed interrogatories have been
Forthcoming, but for various satisfac-
tory reaSUus all will not be on hand un-
til some time in July.
The commissioners were selected by
the department of labor with the ap-
proval o. the President TO come to Colo
rado on account Of our long years OF ex-
perienee boz the adjustment and preven-
tion OF labor disputes in the southern
states
As W have been in the coal mining
business an our lives a employer and
employe it i- natural To suppose that
we should be- able to grasp the situation
better tiau any investigating committee
compose solely OF laymen or non mining
men. u Is also natural to assume that
finally Wo would reach some conclusion
from our practical experience which
would enable us to outline some sug-
gestion looking to paving the way to
peace and the withdrawal of federal
troops the presence of which is mat
ter OF federal concern.
This suggestion will be filed in Wash
ington and copies will be furnished the
coal operators and strike leaders. with
out any desire to meddle or to muddie
the situation.
VIII Not Force Services.
shall we mediate then. That de-
I ponds Entirely with the operators and
miners. We will simply be at their
-erSice. We have no power to force our
services.
The above statement is deemed nee
essary after some statements in the
press that are liable to misrepresenta-
ton. including the signed statements
of Messrs- Welborn. Brown. Perry and
1 oseocd. so that our mission may be more
clearly understood.
we are here for peace. but even
peacemakers must have knowledge of
the facts and the necessary experience
and judgment to correlate and summar-
ize before reaching any conclusion.
This is the bridge we are now trying
TO cross in an impartial manner When
we have crossed it. and if from past eN-
pcrience we can suggest anything that
viii appeal to either or both parties that
might bring about peace. We would be
derelict in our public duty in withhold
ing such suggestion.
I'VE will not be mediators until then
and not then unless desired by the par
ties at interest. hence we have not
tried to cross This bridge and will not
unless heckoned to do So
fSignedi ..HYWEL DAVIES.
wv r. FARLEY.
Federal Commissioners OF Concilia-