The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-26
MEDIATION PROBE
 SLATED ID START
 HERE NEXT MONDAY
Governor Names Montgomery Men to Act as Personal Rep- resentatives to Assemble
 Data and Report
Hy FRED IF. GoRMLEY
Montgomery Bureau. The Age-Herald.
 22f-e First National Bank Buildi

Montgomery Bureau. The Age-Herald
 22f-s First National Bank Building
 Montgomery, February 25.--(Spe- cial.)-Investigations of the coal strike and the contentious of each side will be started by Governor Xiii by's representatives at once and will be carried on entirely in the open. Tins announcement was made by the committee named by Governor Kilby Friday after a formal meeting with Hafwell C.. Davis, attorney general, late in the afternoon.
 John w. Durr, one of the represen- tatives, left later in the evening for Birmingham, while the other mem bers, William T. Sheehan and Richard M. Robbie, will go Saturday in order tfat an informal investigation may be started during the day.
 Before disbandng the representatives addressed identical telegrams to James Bonnynan, chairman of the coal opera tors committee, and Van A. Bittner, in- ternational representative of the United Mine Workers of America, requesting that they prepare for submission Mon- day such statements about the strike and the causes leading up to it as well as suggestions as to solution as they may care to make.
 The committee has obtained from Gov ernor Kilby every item relating to the strike and this will be gone over before any person is called before them. One of the first to be called will be Victor II. Hanson. who will be asked to give his ideas about the proper solution as well as such information about the situa- ton in the coal district as he thinks will assist in reaching a decision which will be fair to coal operators and coal miners alike.
 GOVERNORS PLAN
 No plans have been made beyond the preliminary state. The representatives will take up the various phases as they may be. reached and any persons may come before them if they have informa- tion which will be valuable to either side or to the public in shedding light on the controversy. s44Y ss sssss K < MAI WNlian, F. Black, secretary of the. Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, was elected secretary of the governors rep resentatves and will go to Birmingham to assist In the correlation and preser- vation of the records
 Tn making the selections, Governor Kilby said he desired to obtain men who are not interested whatever in the pro- duction of coal or in the issues which must be settled by the governors deci- sion under the agreement made to Victor H. Hanson of Birmingham by the United Mine Workers of American and the com mittee representing the coal operators. Mr. Hobbie is a prominent wholesale merchant of Montgomery. Mir. Durr is also a leading figure in business in Mont gomery being the head of large drug business. MT Sheehan is editor of the Montgomery Advertiser. All have occu- ], pied prominent positions in the states politics, business and society for many years.
 Members of the committee emphasized that their powers will not go beyond the taking of testimony and the making of recommendations to the governor The governor himself will reach desfsion. 1t Is proposed to begin an inquiry in Bir- 1ningham without delay and to give op-' orators and miners alike the right to appear and submit such testimony as may apport the ccartertions of the two factiOs. Tn the inqiilFy the committee will lave the advice and support of liar well G. Davis, attorney, general, who conerrcd with the committee at the time theimembers were requested to take up the work.
 she three representatives were sur :, prsed when they were called to the cap ibl shortly after noon Friday and re- {uested to make the inquiry. Their names had not been mentioned. In fact, it was not known definitely what plan the governor would pursue until MT Sheehan made the statement at the re- quest of the governor.
 The inquiry will be concluded at the earliest possible moment but there will not De haste at the expense of thorough ness When the evidence has been trans cribed and the recommendations of the committee have been made, Governor Eilby will review all facts thoroughly ana will render a decision. Under the slgned agreement of the operators and miners this decision, whatever it be, wilE De final and will bring to an end the con- tr0versy which has continued without in- { terruption since last September