Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-17
a. +. of L..
to Support
Coal Strike
Samuel Gompers Scores Mine
Operaiors-says Men DE.
sire 10 Negotiate on
Wage Question.
Churches Issue Appeal
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNlNG
Omaha H@~ ieas~sf Nu~,

Omaha he~ Leased Wire.
+ Washington. March lo.-Biiterly
assailIng the mine operators. Prcsh
dent Gompers OF the American Fed.
Grafton of Labor. asserted that OF.
eanizrd labor TO a man will support
the cause OF the mine workers,
though he did not say whether la
bor would resort to the sympathetio
strike 10 aid a miners strike.
Secretary OF the Treasury Mellon
views the possibility OF national
coal strike as the one dark cloud on
the horizon OF improved business
condition, il was said today at the
: treasury.
Treasury officials expressed ths
opinion that there was nothing the
government could do to stop a strike
il called for April |. and indicated
there was little possibility OF the
government taking over the biturl-
nous mines unless protraeted strike
developed an unexpected shor,ag.
OF bituminous coal which would
work a hardship upon tn. general
public.
Come what may, the American
/ Federation OF Labor, the American
labor movement, is with the mine
workers of America in their struggle
against the mine owners" said Mr.,
Gompers.
Scores Operators.
"Thc citizenship OF America can
draw from this conduct but one con-
clusion: the mine owners wish it 10
be understood that the pledge OF
mine owners is valueless. The state
ment of mine owners that the repre-
sentatives of the mine workers have
no power TO confer j. bsseless. The
officers and the policy committee
OF the mine workers have full pow
er to confer, to negotiate and to en-
ter into an agreement. This power
was officially and properly con-
ferred upon them by the mine work
ers' convention.
The mine owners are willing 70
break their word if by so doing they
can reduce wages or weaken the un-
ion. Profits and power, with the
mine owners, come first and every
thing else, including the comfort and
welfare of the public, of which they
talk SO much, come last.
The whole American labor move
r,ent is with the miners. The United
Mine Workers Of America have an
honorable record Of agreements
honorably kept. The industry for
20 years has been conducted npor
the basis OF negotiation and joint
agreement.
Want to Negotiate.
What they ask is negotiation and
agreement, trusting to these truly
American devices to bring improve
ment as time passes. The thing they
want least of all is to be compelled
to cease work as final protest
against the dishonor Of the employ
crs."
Asserting that strike would
greatly add to the hardships which
millions of citizens are already en-
during, would spread great economic
waste and confusion, the social serv-
ice departments Of the federal council
| VI liIS \iiul SIitS VI SliflSt III AIUet-
ica and the National Catholic We'll
fare council joined in an appeal to
the operators and miners to confer
on settlement on the following
| basis:
First, that every effort be made
by both parties to supply all the
facts bearing upon the questions at
issue, in order that the decisions ar
rived at may be founded on justice
rather than on economic advantage.
Second, that besides determining
the immediate issues, operators and
miners unite in a determined effort
to secure the better regulation oil
the industry and thus correct the
lntern1ittency OF employment which
has characterized it in the past and
which has been the chief cause of
disturbance and of widespread suf-
fering and discomfort.
Third. that while full production,
fair profits and just wages are the
immediate objectives to be attained,
both parties to the conference should
recognize that the establishment OF
right human relations takes precc-
dence over any economic issue and
is prerequisite to permanent solu-
ton OF the industrial problem