The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-10

The government mas mo desire to interfere unduly," he announced, but has a duty to safeguard the in- terests of the people who will be seriously affected by the suspension of coal mining"
 Although no immediate responses were received at the secretary's of fec after the statement was issued. press dispatches immediately re- tlected the interest taken In 1t by the representatives of unions and opera tors in the countrJ's widespread coal fields. official reports to tho de- partments however, were concerned largely with details concerning the dissensions in the miners organisa- ton, where Frank Harrington, the Illinois leader and some other dis trict heads, are said to be beginning local negotiations in defiance of the policy of President John L. Lewis and the executive board. The. reports also were received on the attitude of individual mine operators who have in the past entered into national wage agreements.
 The departments agents have been assured that miners locals in near ly all sections throughout union fields are overwhelmingly voting to strike April l." but this information has been discounted to a degree, of ficials said, because a strike vote is quite often taken so that the com mittees assigned to negotiate the is- sues can act with fullest authority.
 There was no disposition in of fieiali circles today to reveal that Mir. Davis' statement. which explained again the governments position, was one result of the repeated refusal of Pennsylvania and other mine op- orators in the central competitive field to enter negotiations looking to another national wage agreement. The union, it was pointed out here, has sought this course from the be- ginning and the operators have been unyielding in opposition though will ing in some cases to make local or district contracts with the union.
 Labor Department Statement
 The statement as issned by the de- partment Of labor said:
 Secretary Davis is now in direct communication with representatives of the coal operators of the central competitive field. It is his earnest desire that both miners and opera tors carry out the spirit and intent of the resolution adopted at the New York conference of March 1920, which provided for a preliminary con ference to meet prior to April 1. 1922, to arrange time and place fer q meeting to take up and consider the making of new agreement.
 ''1'he secretaryss action $ heartily approved by President Harding. None of the government officials in touch with the threatened coal situation can see any objection to council table gathering Of those directly in- terested in the bituminous coal in dustry and particularly in the present situation when 1t is a part of the last agreement and in line with long time practice in the coal industry Joint meetings such as those of the anthracite operators and miners called for New oYrk. City. March t5, give to each side an opportunity to go into every phase of the disputed factors, and can only result ia bet ter understandings.
 "The course suggested by Secretary Davis is only an expression of the earnest conviction of the public as $ evidenced by scores of editorials in the leading newspapers of the coun- try that until such meeting is held In accordance with a previous under standing the two sides to the coal situation have not discharged the ob- legations resting upon them.
 "The government has no desire to interfere unduly but having not only the interests of the employers and employees in mind, 1t also has a duty to safeguard the interests of the peo- pie who will be seriously affected by the suspension of coal mining. Secre- tary Davis cannot see why in the in- terests of common sense the two sides to the coal controversy cannot get together and adjust their diff ferences. and save the country from u nt u.