The Washington herald., 1922-03-22
!. Will NOT
vert STRIKE
herty Sees No Way
Interfere Before
Walk Out.
JUDY SITUATION
Rcials Will Act When Pub
kiic Feels Pinch, Attorney
General Says.

Possible action by the Depart
nnet of Justice in the event of a
general strike of bitun1inous coal
miners on April l was discussed
Yesterday by Attorney General
DauehertS. He did not announce
any contemplated plan of procedure
by the government. but indicated
that the government had as much
right to act in the event of a coal
strtke as it did at the time of the
threatened railroad strike when in
junction proceedings were consid-
cred
MIR. DauEherty declared that he
Fa&~Sot sure that the government
eoalds-ldO- anything to prevent. a
strike or could compel the miners
and operators to come into confer
enee before April in an effort to
setrie their difficulties. The matter
be said. has not yet reached the
STAGE where the Department of Jus.
ties- would exercise its functions.
VIII Await Action.
II know of no law" he said. ito
present a man or a set of men from
quitting their employment stand
for-the proposition of men being en-
abisd to accept employment on con-
ditions agreed upon between en-
ploxer and employe."
IL ii is within the province of the
government to insist upon the rail-
roads being operated and TO prevent
Interference with their operation
the Attorney General said. he
thought that fuel. being indispens-
abH to transportation. would come
within the same classification. The
government. he thought. would
haze the same authority to prevent
Interference with fuel as it would
to prevent interference with trans
poHtation itself.
Many more people. Mr.. Daugherty
declared. were interested in the
coal strike situation than were di-
recf1y interested in the production
of Suel The government. he added
was interested when the public was
pished in its coal supply and was
expected 70 do what 1t could to pre-
VEN n pinch. The government was
not disposed. he continued. to take
sides between employer and en-
pIayes pnless some violence was
done to the country. or the resources
belonging to the country.
MIR. Daugherty gave il as his
opinion that IL some men do not
want to work that was perfectly
proper. but il others did want TO
work they should be able to do so.
He said he was not opposed to la
Dor organizations. but was in favor
Of a man or set of men being able
to enter into any contract for their
labor or the product Of their labor
thy saw fit and at such prices as
they deemed proper.
Blames Government.
Blame for th5 approaching miners
strike was placed on the govern,
ment by George H Cushing. man.
aging director Of the American
Wholesale Coal Association. speak
ing before the City Club forum
yesterday noon. He declared the
action Of the government courts
union officials in April, 1920. fol-
making an agreement. which the
operators now refuse to carry out
Is Nhe root of the trouble. The
operators are not going to stick
their heads in the same moose
again. he said.
The operator is going into this
hsht to clean the mines of shirk-
ers and payroll padders," Cush-
ing declared. But there is a
greater issue than this. If ma
tT6nal agreements continue, the
Tremendous wrangles resulting will
Inevitably force Congress to ma
tfonalize the mines" he concluded
John Walsh. chairman of the
fBrum committee, presided.