The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-23
Loaded Dice for Public
Seen by Frelinghuysen
Ir Strike Settlement

Senator Frelinghuysen OF New
Jersey, chairman of the sub-com-
mittee of the Interstate Commerce
Committee of the Senate. investi-
eating the coal problem. last night
issued a statement in which he re-
ferred to the. Administration plan OF
settling the coal strike as "a loaded
dice proposition for the American
public"
Il cannot speak for the other
members of the committee" Sena-
tor Frelinghuysen said, but per-
sonally view the plan with great
uneasiness and am disposed to re-
gard 1t as a loaded dice proposition
for the American public. The cir
cumstances attendant upon its con-
ception and PRONUNCIATION do not
appeal to me. l do not like the
setting.
The present plan. which incurred
the hostility of DIR. Garfield and
caused his resignation. Is acceptable
to the miners, because it opens the
door to further demands and further
wage increases. which the public must
pay. The miners are expecting an ad-
ditional raise as a result of this agree
ment.
There must have been some secret
deal made in addition to the signed
agreement. In any event the public
may look for an increase in the price
OF coal or another strike.
DIR. Garfield's position throughout
his whole splendid service as fuel ad-
ministrator has been patriotic. and
logical as well. and especially so in his
recent course during the prevalence
Of the strike. He had every reason to
feel that his views reflected the views
OF the President. and he thinks so
still. or did when he appeared before
our committee"
There are two ways to settle un-
lawful strikes. Senator Frelinghuy
sen says. and continues:
Governor Coolidge showed US one
way-the way OF a fearless. patriotic
public official. who refused to tenn
porize or compromise with lawless
men. The other way is to dicker
with the men who are law breakers
and law defiers: men who are in
contempt of court; men who are
without the pale of civilized govern
ment in that they decline to recog-
niZe judicial or executive authority.
There was a vital principle involved
in this contest and that was ignored
in the settlement OF this strike
namely, shall the law be supreme or
shall an organization. a class, hold
itself above the law and refuse
obedience thereto, when its selfish in
terests come in contact with the pub
lie good? So far as concerns the
economic issue involved in this con-
test. there should be no concession
to the miners. I was opposed even
to the raise of IA per cent authorized
by DIR. Garfield. If that concession
Is Objectionable. how much more OBJ
iectionable Is the possibility of any
further increase such as Mr.. Lewis.
acting chairman of the United Mine
Workers Of America. has assured his
men they are likely to secure under
the agreement with the Attorney Gen.
eral. which Mr.. Lewis. himself. says
differs materially from the PROPOSE
ton made by DR.. Garfield
That is what the miners expect.
1t was upon that basis. upon that
assurance. that they were willing to
obey the law. u
1T will be a sad for America IL
obedience to the law must be pur-
chased in this manner. I am opposed
to such a proposition and I believe
the American people are opposed to
il -