The labor world., 1922-07-01


May Settle Strike.
While it is expected that ways and
means for a settlement of the coal
strike will be discussed at the out
set of the conference. it is possible
that the demands Of the miners will
be taken up and a subcommittee
appointed to reopen the question
and thresh out differences. A settle
ment is expected.
Two weeks ago the leading re-
hgious organizations of America
put the coal situation up to Presi-
dent Harding in no uncertain terms.
They are the Commission on the
Church and Social Service of the
Federal Council of Churches, the
Department of Social Action Of the
National Catholic Welfare Council
and the Social Justice Commission
of the Central Conference of Ameri-
can Rabbis.
This Is the first time, so far as is
known, that these representative Or
ganizations Of Protestants, Roman
Catholics and Jews have taken joint
action in an industrial matter. The
representatives Of the three great
religious denominations in their arp
peal asked the president to do the
following:
Make Three Requests.
To call a national coal confer
ence, which he is now contemplate
ing.
To get the facts Of the coal in
dustry through a governmental in
vestigation. which the coal opera
tors will oppose. They don't want
an investigation into their business.
They have fought every attempt by
congress to compel an inquiry into
coal.
- Not to wait until the suffering
among women and children of the
mining camps has become a national
calamity, but to end the coal strike
now.
The appeal Of the churches was
carried to the president by DR.. John
A. Ryan of the Catholic church,
Rabbi Horace J. Wolf. DR.. E. o.
Watson and Arthur E. Hugerford.
It was addressed to THE President
of the United States" and is as fol-
lows:
Prompt Action Urged.
I'VE desire to express to you, on
behalf Of the three great religious
organizations that we represent our
conviction that the time has arrived
when our government should act to
bring about conference In the BIZ
luminous coal industry to end the
present strike.
I'VE believe that the majority of
the people of this country are un-
willing to have it's vitality important
industry subject to economic com
bat IS means of settling disputes.
Whenever either disputant in a con-
troversy declines to employ the
method of conference it becomes
proper for the government to in
tervene. 1t is inconceivable that pub
lie action should wait until the suf-
ferings of women and children in
mining towns should have reached
the proportions Of a national calam-
ity.
ION March 81, 1.2c. representa-
tives of the Commission on the
Church and Social Service of the
Federal Council of the Churches of
Christ of America, and the Depart
ment of Social Action of the Nation
al Catholic Welfare Council, put be-
fore you a resolution adopted by
! their respective bodies urging gov
: ernment action looking toward the
settlement of the coal controversy.
At that time it was pointed out that
the operators in the central compet-
tive field. comprising Illinois. In
diana, Ohio and Western Pennsyl-
vania, had pledged themselves two
years previously to confer with the
union in order to negotiate new
contract.
we wish to express our approval
or the action of the administration
In publicly fixing responsibility for
the failure of such a conference up
on certain of the coal operators who
! were unwilling to be governed by
the terms of their agreement. Our
resolution further called attention
to the lack of accurate information
AAAAAe IAIC AdCIS NECESSARY TO n
just settlement of the controversy
and urged that thorough investi-
cation of the industry should be
made by federal authority.
THE administration at that time
did not feel warranted in taking
action. beyond the issuance Of the
statement to which we have referred
No conference was held, the strike
ensued, and it has now continued
through tenrweeks. Exclusive of the
anthracite fields where conferences
are still in progress. there are not
far from half million men idle in
the industry
"The strike has been more extern
sive than was anticipated since the
miners in several non-union fields
made common cause with the United
Mine Workers. Following a period
OF intense business depression, the
, strike has caused much suffering to
next the middle west will again de-
feat ship subsidy. That's a forezone
conclusion.
/ The A. F. Of L., as it did in 1897
(roptinnad ~ oaea ot