The Washington herald., 1922-04-08


During the next few days. while
coal operators and miners are here
testifying before the House Labor
Committee, efforts will be made by
the committee to bring both sides
Of the controversy together.
According to Representative
Bland. Of Indiana, member of the
committee. every assistance will
be offered toward some sort Of
conciliation." This course, unless
the Federal commission plan is en-
acted into law. would seem to be
the only way now for the commit
tee to bring about a conference.
Spokesman for the operators of
the central competitive field yes
terday made it clear that their
present intention is to keep away
from any Washington conference
with the miners for a long time to
come.
Doubt Dauxherty's Promises.
Attorney General Daugherty's
assurances that they need fear no
prosecutions similar to those under
the indictments now standing
against them in the Indiana Fed
eral Court. it would seem, are in
sufficient to warrant the operators
risking a meeting with the miners.
II Mr.. Daugherty had assured the
operators that the indictments de-
creed by Judge Anderson would be
quashed Immediately. II Is believed
they might have acted differently
But assurance or no assurance they
intend holding out against a blanket
wage scale for the central competi-
tive deid.
The House yesterday voted down
"a amendment which would have
guaranteed Daugherty's assurances
70 the operators. This action, It
was thought, will strengthen the
operators stand considerably.
Vote Down Guarantee.
The amendment was introduced
BY Representative Dennison, Re-
publican, of Illinois. to the pend
ing Department OF Justice appro-
priation bill. It stipulated that
none Of the money appropriated
could be spent in prosecuting any
organization of the operators or
miners or farmers who hold con-
ferences for the purpose of fixing
wages, or limiting production. The
House voted it down rs to 6S.
Inasmuch as the indictments are
not going to be quashed by Daugh-
Crty. and inasmuch as district
meetings with the miners are with
in the law, it was said. the operators
are going to stick to their purpose
Of settling the strike by districts
They contend the central competi-
tive field ceased to exist two years
ago and that the readjustment in
the industry after the war makes
the four-State movement a poor
paying proposition.
Asks Operators to Give Point.
However. in the face of this
Representative Bland believes that
as John l. Lewis. chief of the
miners. has male concession in
agreeing to meet only a represent
ative part of the group, 50 the or.
orators must make a concession and
meet Lewis and his men.
We expect to have both sides
Of the bituminOus controversy in
Indiana here over the week -end.
and we are going to offer our as
sistance in bringing them together
so that they may take back the
Conciliation idea to the operators
Of Illinois and Eastern Ohio"
Bland said yesterday.
The central competitive field
must remain as a basis for settle
ment for the time being. 1t may
be a long fight: that cannot be
helped. but It has been the basis
of settlement before. it must be
the basis again. Once this strike
is settled, then the government
should take steps to discover how
to avoid strikes in the future"
Bland insisted.
The operators were attacked
from the floor of the House yester-
day by Representative Ricketts,
Republican. Ohio. who charged
them with being in league to re-
strict production. keep up prices.
and drive down wages.
Before the House Labor Commit
tee John Brophy, Central PennsyI-
vania miners leader, stressed the
need for governmental "emer-
Gency coal investigation commits
sion" which would eventually de-
velop into a permanent agency en-
powered to supervise and control
the industry. This, he admitted,
virtually amounted to limited ma
tionalization.