Evening star., 1923-09-14
COOLIDGE ORDERS
: PROBE OF EXCESS
HARD COAL PROFITS
CONTINUED from Third Page.)

men and assistant foremen in prob
lens of management, especially In
dealing with labor under a union
agreement.
In accordance with best policy in
the coal and in all other industries.
we recommend the policy in each
company of centralized responsibility
for labor relations.
I'VE recommend much closer con-
tact and greater educational service
from the district and national officers
of the union to the local officers and
men.
I'VE believe that the union will
need to depend more on facts and less
on force if it is in the future to ad-
vance the interests Of its members az
successfully as il has in the past.
We therefore suggest the Importance
within. the union of continuous factl-
tiles for research which will collect
and interpret facts and aid and en-
tighten union policy.
we believe that the union is facing
critical transition period. 1t has
gone through and won the struggle
to become powerful. The challenge
confronting 1t now is whether it can
use great power In a responsible way
to serve social ends.
I'VE do not advocate nationaliZa-
tfon as means of meeting the ma
tional strike or other parts of dhe
problem of labor relations.
I'VE recommend against compulsory
arbitration as means of preventing
believe in discretion-Tnad law In
either the industrial or political fields
and because there is no way to en-
force a compulsory award which does
not involve enforced operation or en-
I forced labor.
I'VE recommend special compulsory
| investigation when the prospect of
| failure to renew an agreement is i'm
| minent, so that the public may have
| q chance to be heard before conflicts
| arise. Specifically, We recommend an
/ inquiry under the authority of the
President OF the United States. To
this end, 1t is suggested that all
agreements should contain clause
| that Will provide for automatic re-
newal of all agreements except in re-
gard to provisions concerning which
either party may have given notice to
the other ninety days in advance of
the date of termination OF the agree
ment. In case of failure to agree,
report setting forth the factors at is
sue should be made to the President,
by each side, not later than sixty days
before the expiration of the agree
ment,
1T is recommended that when such
report is made the President imme-
and secure a report and award thereon
made on or before the date OF expira.
| tion of the agreement. 1t should
be the purpose OF such report to focus
! upon the negotiators the irresistioLe
obligation to furnish the public with
coal
Hit Drastic Measures.
The best approach to a remedy for
| the evils of the general strike will not,
| in our Judgment, be found in an imme-
diate resort to drastic prohibitory meas
ures. Whatever artificial gap may have
| developed between employer and en-
ploye, they must work together or there
can be no peace and no real efficiency.
q It will be necessary, however, for
them TO find means of bringing their
best statesmanship to the front in con-
nection with the general negotiations,
They cannot perform this Indispensable
public duty unless they emancipate
| themselves from the atmosphere OF mill
fancy that too often characteriZes their
proceedings.
'It is believed that the combination
| of continuous investigation and' pub
| liclty with the possible resort to media
| ton at the instance of the President of
the United States may remove the
! necessity for more drastic emergency
measures. Until measures for
| holding both sides to their responsibili-
| ties have been exhausted, II will be ex-
| tremely unwise for the public to embark
on coercive measures of regulation Of
! labor relations.
While 1t Is believed that the above
suggestions will encourage mutual ac-
| commodation and agreement at the time
! of the renewal of negotiations and will
| therefore lessen the chances OF national
| strikes or suspensions, the fundamen-
| tally constructive opportunity lies in the
building up of the day-to-day relations
within the agreement period. Improve
! ment in industrial relations during the
10. &c Ne n,@ ,Sny1-
siderably lessen the probability OF a
national strike"