Bisbee daily review., 1922-03-22
TO
 TAKE NJ ACTION IN COAL STRIKE
Hope of Averting Strike Is Not Abandoned, But No
 Action Contemplated

WASHINGTON, Mar. 21. While the government has mot entirely abandoned it's efforts to get settle ment in advance of the coal strike called for April 1, particularly in the bituminous fields, and while the de partment of justice is studying pos abilities of legal redress in case dan ger results to public peace and wei fare, it was learned today in White House and cabinet circles that no action is contemplated unless the strike develops.
 Secretary Davis of the labor depart ment, who has represented the gov ernment in direct negotiations in the industry, had no comment to make when word of the United Mine Work CTS call for suspension of work on April 1, in both the bituminous and anthracite fields reached Washington but Attorney General Daugherty in dicated he was inclined to consider that the legal branch of the govern ment might take some steps, partic- ularly in case transportation derange ment was occasioned by a strike.
 At the White House, along with the statement that the efforts to bring about a national conference between the employers and the miners in the bituminouS industry were still con tinuing, Notwithstanding the almost complete refusal of the operators to cooperate, the existence of a great coal surplus was emphasized as a | most important factor.
 | The governments surveys indicat. | ed, it whs said, that with production l continuing in non-union fields, the surplus would prevent any shortage in industry and should prevent any imitation of coal prices,
 The governments concern with the anthracite situation is not so great 1 because of the disposition there fol amicable relationship between tho mine owners and their unionized em ployes.
 I Daugherty, reviewing the legal as 4 poets, and mindful of department o justice plans to defend railroad op erations by injunction against threat ened strike suspension last october declared that the coal strike had no reached point where his responsi bilhy began. He desired to know he said, whether the government, cap able of preventing disruption of rail road traffic by use of legal power could not also prevent the same dis ruption, if occasioned by, shortage 0 coal.
 The attorney general declared h, l was not sure that the operators O , miners could be forced into confer , ence to settle their dispute nor wa he as yet certain that action coul be taken by the government. He de . clared he knew of no law preventin a man or group of men from Quittin their employment.
 However, he said, he stood for tn principle of man or group of me being able to accept employment UT on conditions agreed upon between employer and employe.
 If it is within the province of tn government, he continued, to insis l upon the railroads performing tn, functions required in their operatio and preventing interference, woul not the government have the sam authority to prevent interference t fuel as to transportation itself, whe fuel is indispensable .o transportatio and might not fuel come within tn same classification?
 Daugherty declared that the situ; ton had not come to that point an he hoped t would not come to i Many more persons. he said, wer interested in the situation than wer interested in the production of fue and the government was intereste
 when the public was pinched."
 In those circumstances, he added the government was expected to what it could to prevent the pinch.
 The government. Daugherty stated was not disposed to take sides b. tween employer and employe unles some violence was done. The rC sources of the country, he continued belong to the country and it shoul ; be permitted to enjoy them.
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