The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-05
IF COAL PRICES RAISE u. S.
GOVERNMENT MAY INTERFERE
Until Then Attorney General
Daughterty Says Hands Are
OFF of Coal Miners Strike.
(Ry The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, April "A con-
gressional effort at settlement OF the
coal strike, particularly as it involves
the bituminous fields, was begun to-
day when Chairman Nolan of the
house labor committee was authorized
to telegraph invitations to a number
OF representative operators and Off
GERS Of operators association in the
central competitive coal field to at
tend a meeting with the miners union
leaders in Washington April 10, and
attempt to reach an agreement.
At the same time Senator Borah, re-
publican, Idaho, took occasion to say
in the senate that drastic public ac-
ton" might be demanded, and to
charge the operators with contract
breaking in precipitating the strike" !"
A possible divergence between the
views of members of congress and
those of the administration, however,
was seen when Attorney General
Daugherty issued a statement that
''the government is not undertaking
to do anything in the present situa
ton of the coal matter" declaring that
men have a right to employ other
men," that the public was not men
aced with coal shortage, and that it
was the duty of local authorities to
maintain order.
The government would not look
with favor upon coal price increases
Mr.. Daugherty said, adding that he
saw no reason at this time to be-
lieve that disorders need be feared"
but asserting that the government
| "will perform whatever may be its
duty in the premises" if local and
state agencies cannot maintain peace.
The house committee action came
after its members had spent two days
listening to discussion Of the strike
from the miners viewpoint by John
L. Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers. Mr.. Lewis assured the COM
mittee he would advise his associates
to negotiate with any representative
group Of operators from the central
field, which includes Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, even
though not all of the operators could
be induced to deal again with the
not and could not settle the dispute in
other states until this basis had been
established for national wage level
The committee decided to appeal di-
rect to the representative operators
groups in the states named, and Mr..
Lewis tonight declared it had put for
ward q proposition worth consider
ing.
During the hearings today Mr.. Lewis
defended the miners union proposal
to establish six hour day and five
day week, one of the demands orig
inally made, scouting as absurd"
calculation by Representative Black,
democrat, Texas that this would oc-
casion an extra annual cost Of $244,-
600, 900 to the public for coal.
However, il we discuss any of
these demands around a council table
with operators" Mr.. Lewis added,
'tand practicability and reasonable
ness cannot be demonstrated for
them, the demands will fail"
Discussing the history Of wage ne
gotiations, Mr.. Lewis amplified the
repeated charge that the bituminous
operators of the central field had
broken a contract with the miners
union in failing to confer with its
committees for q new wage scale be-
fore the strike. The fact, he said in
agreeing to a suggestion by Repre-
sentative London, socialist, New York,
really gave the strike all the aspect
of a lock out"
Mr.. Lewis said the "basic day wage"
in coal mining under present condi-
tions was $3.50 a day, as compared
with $2.84 in 1913, but the scale in the
latter year, he added, "was a pauper
standard"
The house committee contemplates
further inquiry into the coal industry
with testimony from both operators
and miners, and is expected to con-
tinue it's hearings tomorrow.