The Washington herald., 1922-03-31
Davis Says u. S. Will Act
In Case of Violence :
Or Coal Famine.
ASSERTS INDUSTRY
is NOW ON TRIAL
House Labor Committee
Begins Hearings on
Conditions.

the coal strike as inevitable begin
ming at midnight tonight, Is pre-
pairing TO safeguard the public
/ welfare.
Secretary OF Labor Davis. speak
ing for the administration. Issued
statement yesterday declaring
! that the strike places the coal in
dusty on trial, criticising operators
| who refused to enter a joint con-
ference with the miners at the
governments behest. assuring Fed
! eral protection Of public welfare
and asserting that attempts to boost
coal prices because of the strike
would bring prompt action from the
Attorney General.
Force Not IntendeG-
Secretary Davis made II clear hst
! the administration has no desire to
force conditions upon employers or
employees in the controversy. indi-
| eating that the Federal governments
proposes TO maintain 4 'hands-off'
policy unless there is violence or a
coal shortage which would imper.l
the country.
In the opinion of Secretary Davis
there is little danger of a cbai
shortage. in view of the la-ge
stocks on hand. $1,000, 0OO tons OF
bituminous and 100000 tons Of
anthracite, according to govern
ment figures.
NonUnion production. Secretary
Davis estimated. would meet az
least so per cent of the normal
needs OF the country.
The House Committee on Labor
yesterday began an investigation
\ into the situation. Representative
Nolan. of California, of the House
Labor Committee. failed in an
eleventh hou- effort to avert the
strike.
Industry on Trial.
AS the strike in the bituminous
coal industry is inevitable" said
| Secretary Davis. in the conclusion
Of a long explanation OF the situs-
tion. the industry is squarely on
trial before the public.
At this stage n is simply an
economic dispute in which the chier
sufferers will be the operators and
the miners themselves.
! During the strike the adminis-
tration will watch DEVELOPMENTS
and be ready TO safeguard the pub
lie welfare, whenever il is nenaced"
q
length the vain efforts of the gov
ernment to bring about a joint con-
| ference OF operators and miners
Il cannot let this opportunity
! pass, Mr. Davis said. "without ex-
pressing keen disappointment a.
the failure Of certain operators 70
fulfill the terms Of their obligation
to meet the miners in a waSs con-
ference. They have turned their
backs on a chance to lay bare. not
only to the miners. but 20 the pub
lie, their reasons for declining a
new wage agreement The public
is entitled TO the reasons. and the
press would have fairly supplied
them.
Difference On Cases.
The anthracite industry presents
a pleasing contrast: for its opera
tors and miners are now meeting
directly. There may be a suspen-
sion but there is a negot'atio aud
genuine desire to agree. This
clearly illustrates what the govern
ment has sought all along In the
bituminous field. There is not now
and there never has been. any dis
position in Washington TO force
conditions upon employers or en-
ployes"
The House Committee on Labor
yesterday began hearings on a reso-
luton offered by Representative
Bland. Indiana. for the appointment
NJ a commission OF three member.
by the President 10 Investigate
labor conditions in the coal in
dustry. Witnesses were Ethelbert
Stewart. commissioner OF 'labbr
statistics OF the Department Of
Labor; John Moore. legislative rep
resentative OF the United Mine
Workers Of America. and DIR. Worth
NJ. Tippy. representing the FEEDER
ated Council Of Churches Of Christ.
Mr.. Stewart presented statistics
dealing with earnings and expendi-
lures of coal miners. some OF h's
comparisons indicating that earn
ings have failed TO keep pace with
the cost of living.
Lewis 20 Testify.
Mr.. Moore gave assurance that
John l.. Lewis. president Of the
United Mine Workers of America.
will testify before the committee
next Monday. unless he is in jau.~
In view of the refusal OF Senator
Rorah 20 join in an appeal TO the
President. the House committee de-
cided not to attempt anything Of
the sort Independently.
A resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative Upshaw. Georgia. contem-
plated a request TO the President
that he urge a thirty-day DELAY IN
the commencement OF strike.
pending a joint conference Of oper-
ators and miners. Representative
Upshaw at the hearing asked Mr..
Moore whether the United Mine
Workers would approve action Of
this nature.
I'VE don't desire governmental
Intervention until all our resources
have been exhausted" replied Mr..
Moore.
Miners Want Corferer~e.
would there be any objection to
a onfNrence Of miners and opera
tors called by the President" asked
Mr.. Upshaw.
IF the President wcrc {" scHd
out an Invitation tonight the Nv. '--s
would be on the first t'aiu ." ash.
ington." replied Mr. Moore.
Mr.. Moore. In testincnN before the
committee. declared that :he minors
Il