Arizona republican., 1922-03-22
WORKERS IN HARD and
SOFT COAL FIELDS TO
QUIT SIMULTANEOUSLY
FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, JOLN7
WALKOUT CALLED BY UNION LEAD
ERS; EFFECTIVE APRIL T.; 900, ,OOC
MEN AFFECTED BY ORDER

, no action is contemplated unless the
strike develops.
Secretary Davis Of the labor der
partment, who has represented the
government in direct negotiations IN
the industry. had no comment to
make when word Of the United Mine
Workers call for suspension of work
on April 1, in both the bituminoun
and anthracite fields reached Wash
ington. but Attorney General Daugh-
erty indicated he was inclined to cOn-
slider that the legal branch OF the
government might take some steps,
particularly in case transportation de-
rangement was occasioned by the
strike.
At the White House along with the
statement that the effort to bring
about a national conference between
the employers and the miners in the
bituminous industry was still con
tinuing. Notwithstanding the almost
complete refusal OF the operators TO
cooperate. the existence of a great
coal surplus was emphasized as .
most important factor.
The governments surveys indicat-
ed, it was said, that with production
AVhAAnhAAik IA AiiC 1AOtQHs AAtC
surplus would prevent any short
ages in industry and should prevent
any initiation of coal prices.
The governments concern with the
anthracite situation is not so great
because Of the disposition there for
amicable relationship between the
mine owners and their unionized en-
ployes.
Mr. Daugherty. reviewing the le-
gal aspects and mindful OF depart
ment of justice plans TO defend rail-
road operations by injunction against
threatened strike suspension last Oc-
tobeer. dclared that the coal strike
had not reached q point where his
responsibility began. He desired to
know, he said. whether the govern
ment, capable of preventing disrup-
ton of railroad traffic by use of legal
power, could not also prevent the
same disruption, IL occasioned BY
shortage of coal.
Could Not Force Conference
The attorney general declared he
was not sure that the operators or
miners could be forced into confer
ence to settle their dispute nor was
he as yet certain that action could
be taken by the government He de-
clared he knew Of no law preventing
ting their employment. However, he
added, he stood for the principle Of
a man or a group Of men being able
to accept employment upon condi-
rions agreed between employer and
employe.
II it is within the province OF
government he continued to insist
upon the railroads performing the
functions required in their operation
and preventing interference, would
not the government have the same
authority to prevent interference TO
fuel as to transportation itself when
fuel is indispensable to transporta-
tion; and might not fuel come with
in the same classification.
Mr.. Daugherty declared that the
situation had not come TO that point
and he hoped it would not come 10
it. Many more persons. he said. were
interested in the situation than were
interested in the production OF fuel
and the government was "interested
when the public was pinched.'
In those circumstances, he added,
the government was expected to do
what il could to prevent the pinch.
The government. Mr.. Daugherty
stated. was not disposed to take
sides between employer and employe
unless some violence was done. The
resources OF the country, he con-
tinued, belong to the country and 81
should be permitted TO enjoy them.
Wage Board Adiourns.
NEW YORK, March 21-FaAing 70
reach an agreement which would
avert the general coal strike April J..
for which an order was issued from
United Mine Workers headquarters in
indianapolis today. the anthracite
miners and operators wage arbitra-
tion OF eight tonight ended its first
conference here.
Members Of the committee declined
to say whether the session pointed r.
an early adjustment of wage scale
differences. @0
In formal statement, JameSaA.
German, secretary OF the committee