The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-23
SETTLEMENT MUST
Be MADE OF STRIKE
IN NEXT FEW DAYS
Representative Oliver Says
Government Will Take
Charge Unless Agree
ment Is Reached

Unless there is settlement of the
coal strike by the middle of the week
\ the government will take over the mines
/ Snd operate them, in the opinion of w.
@B. Oliver, representative from the sixth
Alabama district.
Representative Oliver, who spent last
night in Birmingham, en- route from
Washington to his home in Tuscaloosa
to psend few days during the recess OF
Congress- has taken an active part in
the deliberations of the lower house.
While L would not care to make a
prediction as to how the. coal strike will
be settled said Mr.. Oliver, II am firm
ly, convinced that unless the operators
and the miners reach an agreement by
Tuesday, or the middle of the week at
the outside the government will take
charge of the situation and operate the
mines. Every effort has been made and
will continue to be made during the next
two OF three days to get the two sides
together, but after that time expires
the government will see that the inter-
ests of the country are taken care of.
Regarding the peace treaty, Mr..
Oliver stated that the outcome was
still pro1bematical and he was not
optimistic over the possibility of set
Element of this matter when Congress
reconvenes.
"The only chance I see for an early
settlement is for the republicans and
the few democrats who opposed the
treaty to yield to the pressure from
the better sentiment, of the country in
favor of a speedy ratification, he
said. '"The republicans have been
playing a game of politics which is
plain to all thinking people, and they
have done this in spite of the fact that
the. majority sentimvht of the country
T. ~ Fax re he rat ficafiOn nf the
treaty.
There can be no question that they
have made bid for the support of the
Irish, who have always been largely
democratic. but who are strongly OPP
posed to thu treaty and the League OF
Nations. They have also added to the
hold they already had on the pro- Ger
man factions in the country. The OPP
position of the republicans. as has
been apparent to those who were on
the scene and could see the motives
behind their actions, has not been one
of sincere opposition to the treaty or
any of it's provisions. but 1t has been
a play to gain certain support in the
coming elections.
I'm a statement made last week. SEN
ator Underwood exposed the position of
the republicans in his reply to Senator
Harding of Ohio. The republicans could
have had the treaty with the reserva-
tions covering the points they claimed
were Objectionable, but when the OPP
portunity came they did not want that
Mr.. Oliver was keenly interested in
the Warrior river situation, having
been one of the most active members
of Congress in getting federal action
of benefit to Birmingham and Alabama.
He took a prominent part in securing
the rates favorable to this district and
was active against the proposal to al
low the railroads to operate boats in
competition with the water craft,
which, it is believed were really in
tended for the purpose of putting COM
peting water transportation out of
business and then increasing the rates
by water to such an extent that the
inland navigation would be destroyed.
Mr.. Oliver will spend several days in
Tuscaloosa, but expects to return to
Birmingham in time for the football
game Thursday. He will return to
Washington in time for the opening of
Congress December 1.