The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-05
GOVERNOR ACTS ID
 AVERT STRIKE OF
 ALABAMA MINERS
Asks Kennamer to Hold Up Strike Order Until Commis- sion Can Inquire Into
 Differences
By FRED II. GORMLEy Montgomery Bureau The Ass-Heraid
 22l-2 First National Bank 5uiidinJ

Special )-Taking the posi-
 ton that the public will be the
 sufferer if the controversy be-
 tween the coal operators of the i Birmingham district is contin-
 ued until the miners walk out
 on a strike, Governor Kilby by
 official order Saturday created
 a commission of three-Dr.
 George H. Denny, president of
 the university; Judge James J. Mayfield, code commission CT, and former Gov. Charles B. HenderSon-to make a thor
 ough investigation of causes
 leading to the dispute, to pub
 fish it's findings and to take
 whatever action that may lead
 to settlement. ] Simultaneously with the creation of the 1 commission. Governor hilby called on
 J. R. Kennamer, president of the United Mine Workers for Alabama, not to issue ! d formal call for d strike until the cons mission of disinterested citizens has been ! able to complete its investigations and 1 has attempted to bring about Settle- ment.
 ] The governor also addressed telegrams 1 to railroad officials urging them to aid | the situation, which is about to become
 desperate, by the furnishing of cars for l the prompt movement of coal from the 1 Birmingham district.
 DENNY IS CHAIRMAN ] pr, Denny was named chairman Of 1 the commission and was requested to organize the board at once and to pro- ceed to the Birmingham district for l thorough inquiry. 1t is proposed to call before the commission representatives or ! both the operators and miners, to take 1 testimony, to recommend d basis for 1 agreement and to insist that the public. having an interest in the orderly produc-
 tion of fuel, should be given a voice in | the controversy.
 l It is proposed to begin the investiga- ! tiops early in the week and to urge rep- l resentatiVes of each side to be present. l with counsel and TO submit to thor 1 ough inquiry, in order that the conmls-
 sion may suggest settlement winch
 will be satisfactory to employers and en- |
 the miners are willing to submit the,r 1 side of the controversy to the conlms- l sion. Coal operators In recent weeks have used much newspaper space in eX-
 blaming their position, and this is taken
 to indicate that they, too, will be wlli- 1 ing to refer their contentious to noa- 1 partisan commission.
 i MEANS GREAT SUFFERING | "A strike in the coal fields at this tims I mcrId bring tiutOId suffering the peO- 1 pie of Alabama said Governor hliby, l in announcing the creation of the com mission. Tt means more than mers controversy between the two sides. Let the production of coal stop and residents of. every section of Alabama will be af- fected A shortage of coal has existed
 for some time. State institutions. vital to the maintenance of orderliness in gov ernment, have been unable to obtaM supplies sufficient to meet theIr neeus. ."lt-WiN be many months before sui ficient coal can be mined even 1T the mines turn out maximum output. Re- ports now of an impending strike nat urally cause unrest and cause persons who have no personal interest In the final outcome other han a desire for fairness to ask that something be done to settle the controversy.
 Ut has been my desire to put on this com nis isslon men who are unbiased
 and who lean neither toward the one
 nor the other. The commission is com posed of men who have taken promi- nent parts in civic affairs, men who are truly representative of the state, and men who will seek to obtain the facts and to suggest a settlement founded
 on fairness and justice.
 Let me urge that representatives of each side of this controversy submit to this commission the factS-all facts Ip der that settlement may be made without a strike and the consequent suffering Of the principals as well as the public. which in no other way can
 protect itself. l am convinced that each side seeks no more than justice This commission is created in order that justice may be done"
 MESSAGE TO KENNAwER
 AS governor of Alabama. sent ing all of it's people includihs ne di- vergent interests of capital and labor, and believing that d general strike of miners in accordance with the call of President Lewis would bring untold suffering 10 the people of Alabama and disaster to industries and public utilities so necessary to the comfort and welfare. 1 most urgently request that you withhold the call for 8 general strike pending an investigation of dif- fercnCee between operators and miners. by comm ssion of disinterested citi- gems, which I have appointed for the purpose. An immediate answer is de- sired.'
 The message to Dr. Denny similar to one which went to Judge Mayfield and Governor Henderson. follows:
 "A continuance of the labor troubles at the coal mines of the Birmingham district will produce shortage of coal that will bring suffering to thousands of our people, close down or reduce to short hours industries and public service> utilities upon which the conn fort and welfare of the people depend. The suffering already being felt will
 increase as the cold weather ap- breaches. If the general strike ordered by President Lewis is called by Ala bama labor authorities, widespread suffering and distress is inevitable. Regarding the situation as extremely serious and the crisis near at hand. have decided to attempt to avert the general strike by requesting three of Alabama's leading citizens of unques- toned integrity, enjoying the confi- dence of the entire state. to serve as commission to inquire into the diff ferences between the operators and the miners, and if possible bring about settlement and so end a situation fraught with the gravest danger to the people of the state I therefore re-