New-York tribune., 1922-04-03
Lewis, Before House Com
mittee To-day, toDefend
Strike andAsk Investiga-
ton on Scientific Lines
A.F.L. Expected to
Give Cooperation
Conference.-The Compers
TO Outline Aid; Erner.
gency Exists, Says Borah
By Gilman Parker

TAShlNGltN, ApfH 81 ne strlk-
,rs coal miners of the United States,
through John L. Lewis, their president,
,,o.morrow will lay their case officially
t,fore the American people in q two
told effort. not only TO clinch popular
support for their cause, but also to
Law the basis for governmental action,
which they arc convinced will bring
about the regeneration Of the coal In
dus.ry and make repetition Of the
nresent situation impossible.
Reports from the mining districts
received here to-day showed quiet pre-
Ysiling everywhere, with nothing to
,hange the estimates made yesterday
nv union leaders that there were 500,-
600 union and 100000 non-union men
on strike. Zone hundred per cent eff
ysetive,' was the description of the
strike given by Mr.. Lewis. He said
the men were prepared to stay out in
definitely
Mr.. Lewis arrived here to-day from
Indianapolis. He will appear to-mor-
TOW before the House Labor Commit
tee III connection with its hearings en-
The Bland resolution calling for a
Congressional investigation of the coal
industry, In addition TO reading q care
lHy prepared statement which in ef-
ect is brief for the miners, he will
Aie with the committee q document os
some sixty typewriter pages setting
forth their position IN detail, touching
gu various phases of the industry in
It's relation to the strike and making
Gear their attitude as to what steps
t1ey believe should be taken by way
of government regulation.
Miners Want Investigation
While declining to reveal in advance
aNy "details, either of the brief or the
rsport, Mr. Lewis left no doubt that
ie rllrefs are strongly III favor of
i1oroug.' invest cation of the coal in
dastry from the ground up"
We believe that such an inveStiga-
ION could be conducted along sc:er-
'ife lines and that It should not be
merely another perfUrctory inquiry by
Congressional committed" he said
Past experience has shown the fulfil
~ of Congressional Investigations Of
Tie sort in which p,litical equations
arc likely to have important influences
ard the Investigators are likely to be
unilt because OF lack of the requisite
technical knowledge.
An investigating commission of this
nature, if one is TO be appointed, should
oe composed largely os engineers and
ether technicians similarly qualified,
with representation both of the oper
ators and the miners"
Gompers Issues Warning
Two other Washington developments
u Importance in connection with the
SlfiSe were statements by Samuel
1ompers, president of the American
RECREATION Of Labor. in which he
charged that the real basis Of the strike
was wa tnat the organized employers of
me country were trying t. force
showdown" with organized labor, and
Senator William +. Borah, who let
" ne known that he disagrees with the
eehtentlon Of the Administration that
.ae strike has not yet produced public
emergency.
ar Gompers concluded his charges
"lIn warning. he said:
can tnnk of no greater calamity
20 me employers OF this country than
:, oeleat Of the miners in this strike.
:. 'he mine owners think they have
.e power to crush the miners, they
'au better not use It,"
Mf' Gomperss statement was OBJ
i'iNed through question as to whether
ne believed the strike. as considered
~ l'S oroadest sense, really represent
"a showdown between organized
capital and organized labor-the much
.efaded .S test of strength" between
."c TWO forces which economic OBJ
sewers have believed was sure to come.
10 Fight Industrial Autocracy
ny answer is no. so far as organ
.asu isoor 70 concerned" said Mr.. Com
.sfs, ,i But believe that the en-
f'vsets are trying 10 force showdown
M. nay they are .rying to crush the
s sr.,N OF the workers Of this country
,b sau endeavoring to take away every
~ans worth while they have gained.
Icy me say that during the recent
nas rat 'ne workers of the United States
"Soe any and every sacrifice neces-
Continued OF psas thres)