Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-10
Davis MAKES
PLEA To AVERT
COAL STRIKE
Makes Plea of Common
Sense to Miners and
Operators
SEEKS TO SAFEGUARD
Secretary of Labor Issues Statement
Saying Governmcr: Has "a Desire
to Interfere tnduly.

| Washington. March l0.-Secretary
of Labor Davis yesterday broke the
| silence he has maintained during the
70 days in which the Government has
! actively sought intervention IN the
! imucnding coal strike to urge nine
operators and the miners union IN
! the name of common sense tc get to-
gethcr and save the country from the
| costly results Of a strike
The Government has no desire to
! interfere unduly,' he announced, but
has a duty to safeguard the interests
Of the people who will be seriously al
; fcctcd hy the suspension Of Goa! min
ing"
Nithourh no immediate responses
were received al the Sccrctarr'S Of
flee after the statement was issued,
press dispatches Immediately reflect
cd the interest taken in it by repre-
scn;atircs of unions and operators IN
the country'S Widespread coal fields.
Official reports To the department,
however. were concerned largely with
details concerning the dlSsenSl0n IN
the miners organization. where Frank
harrington. The Illinois leader. and
some other district heads arc said to
he beginning local negotiations IN de-
farce Of the policy of President John
l.. Lewis and the national executive
board of he United Mine Workers.
There was no disposition in official
circles today ta conceal that Mr. DAVIS
statement, which explained again the
Government position. was one result
Gt the repeated refusal of PennsEl-
vania and oIhCr minc operators IN the
central competitive field 10 cnt"r nego-.
tiaticrS locking "a another national
Wa~" agreement.
Tho union. it was pointed out mere,
has Sough; this cou!S" from the be-
ginning. and the operators have been
uIyi"ldiur in opposition. though VIII
ing in Somc cases to make local or
district contracts with the union.
The statement, AZ issued by the De-
parrm"nt of Labor, said:
"Scc.ctary DAVIS is nov IN direct
communication with representatives OF
the ccal operators of The central COM
octi;:vc field It's his earnest desire
that bn;h miners and operators carry
out the spirit and intent of the rcSoiu-
ton adopted nj II" New York confer
cncc Of March. 1920, which provided
for "A preliminary coafc:cnc" TO meet
prior to huril |. 1922, to arrange 4
time and place 10: meeting OF new
agreement.
The Sc.rctar"'S action is heartily
approved by President Harding. None
of ;hc Government officials IN touch
with h" threatened coal situation can
see arv objection ~ . council-tab!c
gathering Of those directly Interested
IN the hituminouS coal Industry, and
particularly in the present situation,
when il is 4 part cf n" last agree
mcnt and in inc with longtime prac-
tcc in the coal industry. Joint meet
ings. such IS those of the anthracite
operators and miners called for New
York city March -, give to each side
an opportunity 10 70 into every phase
Of the disputed factors. and can only
result in hctt"r understanding.
"'rhn course suggested by Secretary
Davis is only an expression OF the
earnest conviction Of the public. as IS
evidenced By scores Of editorials III
the leading newspapers Of thc cOun-
trs. that until such meeting is held III
accordance with Il previous under
standing the two sides to the coal
situation have rot discharged the OBJ
legations resting upon them.
Tho GnYcrrsncnt has nc desire to
intcrfcr" unduly hut. having not only
III" interests of the employers and
employees IN mind, il also has duty
to safeguard the interests Of the pco-
L fF,,.- pI tt-
the suspension Of coal mining.
"Sccrctar; Da"iS cannot see Why. IN
the interests Of common sense, the
two sides to the con! controversy cam
not get togcthcr and adjust their diff
fcrenccs and save the country from
the costly results Of strike