The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-10
URGES MEETING TO
AVERT COAL STRIKE.
Secretary Davis Insists Opera
tOTS and Miners Confer. ]
APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE
Declares They Should Try Save the
Country From Costly Results OF a
Walkout.

! Declares They Should Try Save ths
Country From Costly Results OF {
WaIkout.
| Washington, March 10.-Secreti,ry
| of Labor Davis broke the silence Ne
! has maintained during the ten days IL
| which the government has actively
| sought intervention in the impending
coal strike, to urge mine operators
and the miners union in the name o1
common. sense to get together 2lld
save the country from the costly te
suits of IA strike
The government has no ueSlre &c
interfere unduly," he announced, tul
| has a duty to safeguard the interests
OF the people. who will be seriously
affected by the suspension of coal MN
Ing"
Although no immediate responses
were received at the secretarys ofce
after the statement was issued, press
dispatches Immediately reflected Tue
interest taken in it by the representa-
tives of unions and operators in the
cOuntrys Widespread coal fields. Obi
cial reports to the department, how
ever, were concerned largely with Ge-
tails concerning the disSenSion IN the
miners Organization, where FfaAH
harrington, the Illinois leader, and
some other ulstrict heads are said fo
be beginning local negotiations in de-
tunce of the policy of President John
l.. Lewis and the International eXecu-
tive board of the United Mine Work
erS.
reports also were received on the
attitude Of individual mine operatdfs
who have in the past entered into -nh-
tional wage agreements.
The departments agents have be9n
assured that miners locals in nearly
all sections throughout union feles
are Overwhelmingly voting to strike
April l." but this information has been
discounted to a degree, officials sam
l.ecause a strike vote is quite cften
taken So that committees assigned 10
! pmo.iate the issues can act with full
est authority. s.
There was no disposition in ofiiciH
circles to conceal that Davis staff
ment. which explained again the g0y,
ernment's position, vas one tss.f
the repeated refusal of PennssIyaHfh
and other mine operators In the cen
tral competitive field to enter negotia-
tions looking TO another national wage
agreement The union, it was pointed
out here, has sought this course from
the eginning, and the operators have
been uryielding in Oppos:tion, though
willing in some cases to make local or
district contracts with the union.
The statement issued by the depart
ment of labor said:
Secretary Davis is now in direct
communication with representatives OF
the coal operators of the central COM
petitive field 1t is his earnest desire
that both miners and operators carry
out the spirit and intent of the resoiu-
ton adopted at the New York CONFER
ence of March, 1920, which provided
for a preliminary conference to meet
prior to April l, 1922, to arrange
time and place for meeting to take
up and consider the making of n new
agreement.
"The secretary's acton is heartily
approved by President Harding. None
of the government officials in touch
with the threatened coal situation can
see any objection to q council table
gathering of those directly interested
in the bituminous coal -ldustry, and
particularly in the present situation,
when it is part of the last agree
ment and in line with longtime prac-
tice in the coal industry. Joint meet
ings, such as those of the anthracite
operators and miners called for New
York city M.rch -, give to each side
an opportunity to go into every phase
of the disputed factors and can only
result in better understanding"
The course suggested by Secretary
Davis is only an expression OF the
earnest conviction of the public, as is
evidenced by scores of editorials in
the leading newspapers of the country,
that until such meeting is held IN
accordance with previous under
standing, the two sides to the coal
situation have not discharged the OBJ
legations resting upon them.
"The government has no desire to
Interfere unduly, but having not only
the interests Of the employers and en-
ployeS in mini, it also has a duty to
safeguard the interests of the people,
who will be seriously affected by the
suspension of coal mining. Secretary
Davis cannot see why, in the interests
of common sense. the two sides to the
coal controversy cannot get together
and adjust their differences and save
the country from the costly results of
a strike"