Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-10
Davis Urges
Settlement
ofMiIleRow
Secretary Of Labor Says Gov
ernmenl Has Duty to Per.
form in Event Of Coal
Strike.


Washington, March e,-SeeretsTy
OF Labor Davis today broke the 81
lense he has maintained during the
10 days in which the government
has actively sought intervention IN
the impending coal strike. 10 urge
mine operators aud the miners union
'in the name oi common sense, 20
get together and save the country
from the costly results OF 4 strike"
The government has no desire 10
interfere unduly." he announced. but
has a duty TO safeguard the iu-
teress OF the people who will be Sc
riously affected 10y the suspension
OF coal mining
Although no immediate responses
were received az the secretary's Of
flee after the statement was issued,
press dispatches Immediately reflect
cd the interest taken IN j, by repre-
sentatives OF unions and operators
III the coal fields. Official reports
20 the department. however. were
concerned largely with details con-
cerning the dissension in the miners
organization where Frank Harrington.
the Illinois leader. and some other
district heads, are said to be begin
ming local negotiations in defiance
Of the policy OF President John l..
Lewis and the national executive
board OF the United Mine Workers.
Men Vote to Strike.
The departments agents have been
assured that miners locals in nearly
all sections throughout union fields
are overwhelmingly voting to strike
April T. but this information has
been discounted TO a degree, officials
said, because a strike vote is quite
often taken so tina. committees as
signed TO negotiate the issues can
act with fullest authority.
There was no disposition in official
circles today to conceal that Mr.. Da-
Wis statement which explained again
the governments position. was one
result OF the repeated refusal Of Penn
sylvania and other mine operators in
the central competitive field TO en-
ter negotiations looking 10 another |
national wage agreement. The union,
it was pointed out here, has sought .
this course from the beginning. and .
the operators have been unyielding
in opposition. though willing, in some +.
cases, to make local or district con-
tracts with the union.
Would Meet Operators.
Indianapolis, March o.-President
Tohn L. Lewis OF the United Mine
Workers of America. commenting OIL
Secretary Of Labor Davis statement,
declared the miners "have been ready
and are now ready 10 meet with the
operators at any time and place to
negotiate new agreement that will
avert suspension OF operations in
the coal industry"
The statement of Secretary Davis
was interpreted by Mr.. Lewis as
sustaining the miners in their conten-
ton that the coal operators Of the
central competitive field, comprising
Illinois. Indiana, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania are morally bound to
meet the miners in a wage confer
cnce.
Mr.. Lewis statement was issued
during session Of the international
executive board Of the union after
board members had read the text OF
Secretary Davis appeal. Board men,
bers were said to have received the
Labor departments statement with
approval.
File Notice of Strike.
Denver, March 9.-Notice that
strike in the coal mines of Colorado
would take place OH April |, when a
nationwide strike is threatened. un-
ess a new wage scale and working
agreement is negotiated between the
,oal operators and proper officers Of
he United Mine Workers of Ameri-
"a were filed with the state indus
rial commission here today by coal
miners unions in several parts of
he state