Evening star., 1933-09-11
JOHNSON HOPEBL
Of COAL Accord
CIings to Expechtion Rather
Than Impose One and In
vite court Test.
Continued From First Page.)

pressed celentlessly for a code by agree
ment. ..
amendments, etc, were invited" he said
in Z statement last night.
90 Conferences have been car
ried forward on the basis OF the sub
stance of these suggestions with most
OF the parties at interest in the code.
ard negotiations between the United
Mine Workers and the Appalachian oper-
ators have been practically uninter-
rupted.
From the cooperative. conciliatory
and reasonable attitude now governing
both sets of negotiations. l feel luStl-
fed in saying that my confidence in
our ability to get proper agreed code
and a satisfactory settlement has not
been shaken"
Wagner's statement told employers
and employees the keystone of the Blue
Eagle program lis good will and united
effort and the desire to open and keep
open as many factories as possible" !"
But before bringing labor differences to
the National Board, Wagner said both
sides should seek to work out their
problems.
Employers" h. said, must not take
unfair advantage Of the Governments
no strike policy by refusing the just
demands of workers or by non-recognl-
ton Of the right to organize. a right
unequivocably granted by the recovery
act
Wagner's Statement
The statement of Senator Wagner,
appealing Io1 cooperation Of labor and
capital, follows:
The National Labor Board has been
created by the President as an agency
for the arbitration and concilliation of
industrial disputes. During the present
critical period, the Government and
employers and workers are making gi-
santic efforts TO restore prosperity. The
Keystone Of their program is good will
and united effort and the desire to open
and keep open as many factories as
possible. Nothing could be more an
tagonistic to this program than resort
to conflicts which breed hatredS and
keep factories closed either by precipi-
tating strikes anu lookouts or by de-
laying in some other way the completion
of the Presidents codes for rebuilding
industry.
Therefore. I want to make special
appeal at this time to employers and
employees 1 ask them to forget all
feudS, to discard the outworn notion
that gains result from narrowing con-
fiicts. to put aside the idea that the
success OF one group depends upon
defeating the other, and to back the
Presidents program by submitting their
disputes to the National Labor Board
Employers ana employees are equally
represented ON the board, which has
the keenest desire and every facility
for promoting q new regime OF harmony
and general welfare.
AT the same time I want to appeal
to employers and employees to take the
proper preliminary action before COM
ing to the board. Employers must not
take unfair advantage Of the Govern
ment's 'no-strike policy by refusing the
lust demands of workers or by non
recognition of the right to organize,
right uneQuivocably granted by the re-
covery act.
Free to Name Spokesmen.
workers are free to choose any one
they desire to represent them. Both
sides must make every ehort to pre-
sent their grievances to each other, to
listen patiently and to proceed in the
spirit of mutual accommodation. II
agreement is impossible. the proper local
agencies for conciliation should be In
voked Should these fail, resort should
be had to the National Labor Board.
Strikes and discharges should be the
last reSort-not the first.
When the emergency Is over the
National Labor Board will still be OF
great service. Permanent prosperity
depends chiefly upon a satisfactory ad-
justment of wages. They must be high
enough to sustain full consumer de-
mand and to give comfort and security
to willing workers. The codes of fair
competition sanctioned by the Presi-
dent have made a splendid beginning
But in some cases these cot eS estab-
lsh only minimum wages, which should
never be allowed to become the maxi
mum In all cases. wage scales may
be revised to meet changes in the cost
of living and in other economic con-
ditions
These long time adjustments are the
Job Of business men and workers. II
they are made in the spirit of selfish
ness and conflict which has existed in
the past, depressions will be recurrent
and every one will suffer. If they are
made scientifically and with an eye
for the public welfare, every one will
benefit. The National Board, backed
by the power. the broader viewpoint and
the conciliating facilities of the Gov
eminent. will always be able to help
greatly in this task