The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-30

Men employed In the Butler colliery have refused to sanction the strike call, and they will continue to work it is said.
 The strikers are members of the United Mine Workers of America.
 Negotiations for settlement of the trouble will be started at once, both sides declared Sunday.
 other governors. He proposes in his message that conference be called to draft an amendment to the consti- tution providing for minimum wage laws for women and child labor laws The minimum wage law principle was annulled by the supreme court recently when it declared the Dis trict of Columbia law to be uncon- stitutional.
 Other Changes Advocated.
 The scope of this conference, how ever. will extend much further, ac- cording to present plans. Other con stitutional changes advocated by pro- gressives which probably will have a place in the discussion include:
 Ending of lame duck" Congrerses.
 Abolishing the electoral college.
 Curbing the power of the supreme court.
 Senator LaFollette also likely will urge attention in the conference to still other matters, among them state laws for presidential primaries. As leader of the progressives, LaFol- lette's word will have considerable weight.
 Basil M. Manley, head of the peo- ples legislative service, a progress sive organization cooperating with LaFollette. is of the opinion that the conference. in it's efforts to obtain minimum wage and child labor laws, should seek rather to change the principle which allows the supreme court to declare laws to be unconsti tutional by majority of one than to amend the constitution to validate minimum wage and child labor laws.
 That would cure the trouble once and for all." Manley said.
 Measure Already Prepared.
 Senator LaFollette already has a measure prepared which provides for congressional veto on supreme court decisions involving constitutionali- ty. Senator Borah introduced a bill last session requiring that seven out of nine votes be necessary to declare an act of Congress uncon- stitutional.
 The governors to whom Hart sent telegrams are: Al Smith of New York. John J. Blaine of Wisconsin. F. W. Richardson of California, J. M. Davis of Kansas and w. M. Pierce of Oregon. Progressives are planning to extend the invitation to other states not vitally affected by the minimum wage decision.
 In his telegram, Governor Hart said:
 Tt appears that the decision of the United States supreme court declar- ing unconstitutional the minimum wage law of the District of Colum- bia will vitally affect many states now having laws for the protection of women in industry, and act as serious deterrent to those states which are considering adoption of progressive legislation along those lines.
 "will you join with me in calling a conference of governors of all these states to crystalline sentiment for the adoption of a constitutional amend ment authorizing minimum wage and child labor laws? If you are willing to join in this movement will you suggest some place and time of meet ing. preferably later than June 24' 1923?'
 Though Hart has asked date some time after June 24, it is not un- likely that the conference may be held before or after the Presidnts confrence of governors on prohibi- tion enforcement. In that event, 1t probably would be held early in June, before the President leaves for Alaska. The date for the prohibition conference has not been set.