The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-24
GARFIELD TO DIRECT
COAL FIELDS LABOR
Bureau Headed by Peale and
White Created as War
Measure.
PLANS TO END UNREST
Strike Pending Settlement
Barred by Rules to Win
Highest Output.
PLANS TO END UNREST

WASHINGTON, July 23.--Supervision
and control OF labor conditions in the
coal fields were undertaken to-day as a
war measure by DR.. Garfield on behalf
Of the Federal Fuel Administration.
His action followed an agreement be-
tween himself and Secretary OF Labor
Wilson.
ministration was created by DR.. Gar
field Immediately after the agreement
was entered into. Rembrandt Peale, a
coal man of New York city. and John
p. White. former president of the
United Mine Workers Of America, were
chosen as heads OF the new bureau.
The change has been under considera-
ton for several days. but was carefully
withheld until a decision was reached.
The purpose Of the arrangement is to
turbance in the coal fields and increase
the output OF the mines to the highest
possible point.
Statement Of Principles.
Conferences were held by DR.. Gar
field with Frank J. Hayes. president.
and other officials OF the United Mine
Workers Of America before the agree
ment was reached and a statement of
principles arranged. The statement fol-
lows:
THE United States Fuel Adminlstra-
tor understands:
THAT no strike shall take place pend
Ing the settlement Of any controversy
until the dispute has been reviewed and
decided by him.
That recognition OF the unions shall
not be exacted during the continuance
by collective bargaining.
That where. by Joint contract be-
tween employer and employed, machin-
cry Is provided for the settlement of
controversies the United States Fuel
Administrator shall not be required to
intervene or to mediate until such
means have been invoked and the
remedy exhausted without reaching ad-
justment.
THAT where the United States Fuel
Administrator intcrvenes substantially
laid down in the Maryland and Upper
Potomac settlement OF May s, 1918. shall
be accepted by the workers and employ
ers and their chosen representatives as
sufficient.
"On the basis Of the foregoing under
standing. which he regards as Just and
imperative in the present crisis, the
United States Fuel Administrator has
insisted and will continue to insist that
any adjustment Of the labor questions In
the coal mining industry. whether by
joint agreement between operators and
mine workers or by agreements sever
ally made with the United States Fuel
Administrator. shall embody wherever
applicable and substantially the pr!nci-
Plies. provisions and practices laid down
in the Maryland and Upper Potomac
settlement OF May 6, 1918. and recog-
nizes the authority Of the International
Union of Mine Workers in the organized
fields and their Jurisdiction over contro-
versies arising in said fields. More spe-
officially the United States Fuel Admin
!strator has insisted and will continue
to insist in all such settlements
Charges to Employers.
That employers will be required to
relinquish the right to discharge en-
ployees because OF utilization with labor
unions.
That employers will be required to
recognize the right of their employees to
organize by peaceful methods that do
not interrupt production.
THAT the so-called automatic penalty
clause now In force regarded by mine
workers as a cardinal principle of coll
lective bargaining during the contin-
uance OF the war will be included in all
or m tr
the allowance OF increased price per-
mitted to operators
That where the union shop now ex-
lists the same shall continue and where
union and non-union men work together
the continuance of such conditions shall
not be deemed a grievance"
The principles set forth for recogni-
ton OF basic working days and the pro-
lection of union and non-union miners
are the same as were announced by
President Wilson in his labor proclama-
ton OF April 8 In creating the War La
Dor Board.
The peculiar conditions surrounding
the production of coal at this time. as
we'll as the necessity from a war stand
point OF increasing the production to a
still higher point were, the chief ele-
ments given consideration In the de-
cision to establish separate bureau for
handling this phase OF the war labor
| problem.
The new bureau Is an initial step
| toward granting priority distribution
OF labor to coal mines under the plan
which will be In operation by the War
| Labor Administration on August 1. Rail-
roads, shipyards. munition plants and
certain lines OF agriculture are expected
to share with coal mines in the allot-
ment Of the common labor supply Of the
| country.
The new bureau will have as one of
its tasks preventing the spread OF the
| anidemic of strikes to the coal felds