New-York tribune., 1922-06-09
Strike or
Seize Mines"
Says Lenroot
Senator Declares That the
Government Must Act
Quickly to Prevent Coal
Famine i'm the Northwest
Harding View Is Hinted
Walsh Says Hoover Was
"Buncoed" in Settlement
of Bituminous Problem

WASHINGTON. June s-Deelaring
that the government should take
promp, action 20 settle the coal strike
and predicting that II the strike we're
no, settled before September /. the
people tributary 70 the Great LakN
and tho whole Northwest would suffer
ereat hardships. Senator Lcnroo,, Of
Wisconsin. IN a speech to-day said the
government should seize and operate
a part OF the mines II the operators
and miners did not soon come 70 an
agreement
Senator Lenroo' Is recognized as one
N the Republicans close 70 the Presi-
dent, His call for prompt and vigor'
Gus action 's. therefore. regarded a.
indicating tho Administration. under
growing pressure, is 90 make de-
cisive move 10 end the trouble. SEN
ator Lenroo' defended the action oi
Secretary Hoover IN his agreement
with the operators as 20 prices
People Of tho lakes and Northwest
region will freeze next winter II the
strike lasts until October l, according
20 Mr. Lenroot.
walsh Says Hoover Was "Bunooed'
Senator Lenroot's remarks we're made
during a general debate over the coal
situation II was started by senator
Walsh Of Massachusetts. Democrat
Who declared he believed Secretary
Hoover was "buneoed' IN the price,
fixing agreement.
~ this strike continues another
thirty days" said Senator Lenro9t, i
believe the wisdom OF Secretary
Hoover will be demonstrated % the
country. The operators are but human
and unless there be some agreement
anon their part, when this shortage
actually does come. We will find coal
I going 70 seven, eight, nine and ten
dollars a ton again. as 10 did IN 1870.
The miner should understand that
g.. h a. much his duty 20 come 20
reasonable compromise with the opef.
ator as for the operator % understand
4 that ~ IS his duty 20 come 70 rea-
sonahle compromise with the miner
+ ard n they do not do that within the
+ royt thirty days, believe u - tne
aytv of this government 20 serve no
/ ,ica on al interests that unless they
( 40 settle the strike the government
/ will take possession Of a su'heient
number 81 mines and run them 70
make I'D the shortage"
Price Climb stopped, Says Hoover
Agitation breaking out in the Senate
ovsr the Administrator efforts 20
keen bituminous coal prices from climb
inc during the strike was met oy see
reta-v Hoover with a statement assert.
inc that "the essential thing about coal
rrices IS that the runaway market ha'
beer stopped" Except for a "smal
/ ncrcentace % The present producers
Who have refused 70 cooperate, NJ
contended, prices have reeeded IRON
Tho level reached on May 10 ard th'
public has been protected from repe
t.tion Of 1920 conditions.
THE retail coal bearers" Mr. Hoover
declared. could play q fne part in THIS
/ emergency u they would follow MS
/ suggestions that an coal be sold az cost
nlusa reasonable handling charge the
] ehean pre-strike and contract coal 70
/ be reserved for tho smaller household
trade; steam and larger domestic con-
suniers 10 be supplied from current pur-
chases plus reasonable handling
charge; cooperate 20 prevent nine
prices for some districts who are re-
/ fusing n accept a msNimum based on
tho Garfield scale, and handle coal on
straight lines from operator and whole
saler withou, speculative resales IN the
trade.