The labor world., 1922-07-01
HARDING ASKED
TO 0TAkE.STEPS
TO END STRIKE
Three Big Religious Denomina-
tions Appeal for Action,
Continued from page ~
the miners families. and this suf-
fering is rapidly increasing.
Strike Is ORDERLY.

1T is also matter Of profound
satisfaction that the strike has been
remarkably orderly. We have also
been gratified to note that the press
has made an unusually successful
effort to record the facts Of this
conflict. Nevertheless, nothing ef-
fectual has been done to bring 1t to
an end.
'In spite of the desire Of the gov
ernment to avoid interference in the
controversy, it has become neces-
Sary for the secretary Of commerce
union fields, and the retailers, not
to take undue advantage Of the sit
uation by excessively increasing the
price of coal. This action, manifest
ly necessary under the circumstances,
nevertheless serves to show the help
lessness Of the nation and the in
creasing danger to the public in the
face Of so great an industrial strug-
gle. The coal reserves are being
steadily depleted: the suffering of
the miners and their families is be-
coming more acute and the bitter
ness attendant upon the conflict will
inevitably increase.
Must End Strike.
I'VE therefore are impelled to
urge more that the government take
steps to end the coal strike by bring
ing the operators and miners into
conference. Since the failure of early
attempts at securing conference
according to precedent in the central
competitive field, and the conse-
Quent suspension of mining in the
union fields, unprecedented impor-
tance has been given to those fields
in which the miners have not joined
the strike and where operators and
miners are enjoying a temporary
advantage because of the strike in
the union mines. This setting of one
section Of the industry and of one
portion Of the country over against
another, makes for instability, in
security. discomfort, and bitterness.
For this reason We urge that ur1-
less the operators and miners in the
central competitive fneld can even
yet be induced to meet the miners
in joint conference in accord with
precedent, a national conference be
called by the government sufficient
ly representative of all the bitum-
inous coal fields to set standards
and secure stability and prosperity
for the entire industry.
eve believe that through frank
and open discussion the way will
be found to restore health and sta
hility to the industry. Without con-
ference. undertaken in mutual good
faith. no lasting peace can be at
tanned.
Get the Fncts.
We would respectfully call your
attention again to the necessity of
securing adequate information con-
cerning the essential facts of the
coal industry. In PARTICULAR, the alb
sence of authoritative information
concerning cost of production and
profits, has served to increase dis
content among the mine workers.
KNOWING that the government is
under the necessity of pleading for
moderation in prices. which it has
at present no means to compel, and
remembering that the operators have
secured an Injunction restraining thl
activities of the Federal Trade Com.
mission in securing data concern.
Ing costs and profits, it IS natura
that the miners and the public shoult
feel that their interests are not be-
ing safeguarded and that they are
suffering unfair discrimination.
"1n the anthracite fields where
conferences are still in progress tn,
lack of full information regardinf
the financial facts Of the industry
may cause the failure of all attempt.
10 negotiate new agreement. The
consumers resent high prices for Goa
but are unable to form an intelli
gent judgment as 20 the cause or
account of the lack Of authoritative
information.
Congress Must Act,
We urge therefore that If it i
not feasible to restore to the Fedora
Trade Commission the authorit,
which it formedy exercised, the ad
m1nistration recommend congress
slonal action creating an authorita
tive body which shall have power t,
secure and make public all the es
sent1al facts of the industry.
Any settlement Of the presen
strike no matter how it is reached
VIII have only temporary force un
less it Is accompanied by provisio,
Tor full knowledge and publicit,
concerning the facts upon which ,
satisfactory organization of the in
dustry must be based.
we call upon our governmen,
out of concern for the well-beinr q
the nation as whole. the healt,
and comfort of the miners. and tn
preservation Of the mining industry
to take immediate steps to bring tn
djsputants together in order to Sc
cure a just settlement Of the presen
strike and an organization Of tn
coal industry on the basis of tn
maximum service to the nation.
"You,s Mr.. President, succeeded |
bringing the nations together in con
ference to reduce armaments an
the indictments to war. We respec,
fully urge that a national coal con
ference and Federal investigatio
OF the coal industry would have ia,