The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-18
WILSON GIVING
COAL SITUATION
CAREFUL STUDY
More Than Wage Rate In
volyed, Washington
Believes.
president HARD AT II
Air of Bustle Has Returned
to the Executive Of
fices.
Copyright, 1920. BY The Wa,h-

p i n
special Dispatch 70 Ths West vtrrinian.)
WASHINGTON, March 1s.-Presl-
dent Wilson, who last September drop
ped from the pinnacle OF public view
to complete seclusions, is gradually
emerging from his isolation in less
dramatic manner, and the office Of
the chief executive Is now nctionine
more normally than at any time in
more than seven months. b
There is every indication that before
the trees on the White House lawn
are green the President will be meet
ing Tuesdays and Fridays with his
cabinet visitors will be passing through
his office In a never ending stream,
politicians will be seeking his ear In
connection with the coming campaign
and the air OF dignified hustle that
surrounded the executive office in the
Iwestgwings of the White House build
ing will be noticeable once more.
Though but few persons have been
able TO see. the President within the
last week or two, it is becoming more
and more evident that during that time
he has dispcsed OF a large amount OF
work and that press of official bust
ness, rather than physical weakness
IS the barrier that Is holding back
most of the callers, In the days when
the President was still bound very
close to his bed or wheel chair only
the most pressing matters were laid
before him, and that situation con;
tinued until the; present calendar year
But now any person with a legitimate
claim to the attention Of the chief ex-
ecutiye can get It, If he will but put
his case in writing.
Callers, some with public business
and some with private ends to serve,
flock to the White House daily in an
attempt to see the President, .for Just
one minute, basing their request on
the fact that he Is able to receive yis-
itors. To all of these Secretary Tu-
multy replies: "Put 1t in writing and
the President will give It whatever
attention it deserves" Which Is no
idle promise, for SO far as his CORES.
pondence goes the President fs fully
back on the Job"
Though the President has kept in
closest touch with the peace treaty
situation in the Senate during the last
several days, the greater part of his
time has been given to a study Of the
coal situation as contained In the ma
j6rity report of his coal strike com
mission, signed by Chairman Henry
M. Robinson and Rembrandt Peale, ano
the minority report signed by John
P. White. He has done this in order
that he may miss no opportunity to
unity the action of the commission,
having urged at the time OF its ap-
pointment last December the desirable
ity. OF an unanimous verdict.
Those in closest touch with the
President feel that more than the
mere settlement OF the bituminous
coal situation is tied up in this issue,
however important that question may
be. At the time the President looked
to It to establish a precedent for the
settlement Of future labor troubles to
provide, If possible, some plan such
as the first industrial commission
sought to frame last fall without suc-
cess. This leads to the belief that
he viii try long and earnestly to
bring Messrs. Robinson, Peale and
White to an agreement. 81
The general understanding is that
the majority report OF the commission
would give an increase of rs per cent
to the miners, over what they were
getting prior to the strike OF NoFem-
Der /, while Mr.. White fayors an In
crease of 35 per cent and a seven hour
day. Neither Of these reports has
been made public, and the reason Is
understood to be that the President
feels such publicity would emphasize
the difference between the two views
and put each side in q defensive atti-
tude rather than one of cancellation.
With the question OF wage adjust
ment in the railroad industry loom
ing large on the horizon. it is appar-
emit that a final element OF the coal
situation would be a most desirable
precedent which is another reason the
President VIII let nothing interfere
with his present task
President Wilson Is at his desk ON
the stroke of 8. 80 every day, but IL
Continued on Page Four.)
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