The New York herald., 1922-04-08
Secretary Davis's Strike Facts.

Secretary DavIs's Strike Facts.
Is Secretary OF Labor DAVIS en-
tirely fair when he leaves uncor
rected on the record his published
declaration that the mine operators
refused to confer with the mine
workers before the expiration Of the
old contract on March 81 and the
calling OF the nationwide strike by
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea? Secretary DAvIs's statement
was as follows:
1T has been my steady purpose as
Secretary of Labor to be fair to both
sides in any trade dispute laid before
me. In that spirit of fairness 1 am
obliged to say that in this dispute in
the soft coal industry the miners
have been willing to meet and con-
fer. Most of the operators likewise
have been willing. A few important
operators have refused to confer and
so have kept the entire number from
the necessary united action.
II have always found that II two
parties to a trade dispute get to-
gether and talk 1t over they can al
ways work out a satisfactory settle
ment and maintain peace. ! also
contend-and every good American
will agree-that any set of men who
sign a contract or agreement are
morally bound to carry 1t out to the
letter."
But Secretary DAVIS knows, for he
has so been informed by an offcia
letter from B. M. CLARK, presiden'
of the Association of Bituminous
Coal Operators Of Central Pennsyl
vania, that on March 6, 1922, thu
association headed by Mr.. CLARK re
quested a conference with JOIN
BRopHY, president Of the United Mine
Workers of America, District No. 2
for the purpose of negotiating new
scale, but that Mr.. BRoPHY, the unior
leader, declined to have his scal'
committee meet the operators scal'
committee until after settlement
should be effected between the United
Mine Workers of America and thu
operators Of the central competitiv,
field.
Secretary DAVIS knows that thos
are the facts, for in a <elegraphet
reply to Mr.. CLARK he said his state
ment had referred "only to tha
section of the central competitive
States that failed to carry out th
obligation entered into on March 81
1920" &c.
Secretary DAVIS knows that thos
are the facts because in another lette'
in response to the Secretary's tele
gram Mr.. CLARK showed that it wa
a majority of the miners that refused
to negotiate with a majority Of th'
operators because minority groul
of operators and United Mine Work
ers OF America could not agree t
negotiate.
Secretary DAVIS must know to,
that it has been testified before |
Congress hearing that coal operator
in the States of Indiana, Illinois
Ohio and Pennsylvania offered t.
meet their employees at any time
and any place. but that the mine
workers refused. Yet Secretary DAVIS
has not publicly corrected the mis-
leading statement he gave out to the
people of the United States.
1t is true that the operators of the
whole country declined to meet al
a joint body in joint session will
the miners, both the operators ant
the operatives having been enjoinet
by court action from so doing ant
still being under indictment in {
Federal court for having so done
But the majority of the groups Of op
orators would have met the miners
unions il the miners unions would
have met the operators.
Whatever the merits Of the scale
controversy and whatever the cause
Of the breach in the specific centra
competitive field, the wage issue 1t
self and the strike issue itself in thii
great industrial conflict should not b
clouded with misleading facts by Sec
retary DAVIS or by anybody else.