Evening star., 1922-07-10
PRESIDENT PROPOSES
MINERS RESUME JOBS
TILL BOARD CAN ACT
MADE
BY PRESIDENT
TO END STRIKE

In addressing Mis- proposal to
the conference of miners and op-
orators at the White House today,
the President said:
Gentlemen: The information has
come to me that your conference
is deadlocked, or, at the best, at
tempting to agree on plans which
will require extended time to work
out. / have said heretofore that
the government prefers you who
are parties to the. dispute should
settle 1t among yourselves, be-
cause you best understand all the
problems involved The govern
ment cannot settle 1t for. you. It
will force no man to work against
his free will, it will force no man
to employ men against the free
exercise of an employers rights.
The government will not be parti-
san. but the government is con-
cerned with coal production sum-
cient to meet the industrial and
transportation requirements of tho
fuel famine when winter comes
again, and it is desired to have
production resumed at once.
Your government does desire to
be helpful. With such a thought,
therefore, 1 submit to you the fol-
lowing proposal:
Mine workers are to return to
work on the scale of wages which
expired last Harch 81 and mines
now idle because of strike or sus-
pended operation to resume activi-
ties without interference with ac-
tivities of mines now working.
The 1929 scale to be effective until
August 10, 1922.
A coal commission to be created
at once, consisting of three mem
uers selected by the mine workers.
three members selected by the
mine operators and Ave members
to be named by the President All
, decisions by this commission shall
be accepted as final.
This commission to determine, il
possible. within thirty days from to-
day. for the miners on strike. a tenn
porary basic wage scale. which scale
shall be effective until March l, 1928.
In event that the commission is un-
able to report it's scale by August
10, it shall have power to direct con-
tinued work on 1922 scale, until
superseding scale is ready.
The commission snail investigate
exhaustiyely every phase of the coal
of production and transportation. The
President will ask Congress to con-
fer authority for the most thorough
Investigation, and make appropria-
tons necessary to do.such work. The
commission shall make recommenda-
tions looking to the establishment
and maintenance of industrial peace
in the coal industry, the elimination
of waste due to intermittency and
instability, and suggest plans for de-
pendable fuel supply.
/ have taken this short cut to a
resumption of operations because
believe it to be in the interest of the
pie form Of adjusting disputes
which answers the call of good
conscience and a just civilization.
When two great forces do not agree
there must be a peaceful way to ad-
justment, and such an arbitration
opens the way.
1 do not expect reply without due
consideration. Please take the pro-
posal to separate conferences. / wish
you to appIaise the situation, weigh
your respon sibilities. and then answer
this proposal as you wish to be ap-
praised by American public opinion.
I am speaking hrst Of all for the pub
lie interest, but am likewise mind
full of the rights of both workers and
operators. You are also an inseDara-
BILE part Of that public interest With
due regard for all concerned. it ought
to be easy to find way to resume
activities and command the approval
of the Anne rican public.