New-York tribune., 1922-04-09
HardingRefuses
Plea for TrooDs
In Strike Field
No Military Interference
Unless State Is Unable
to Keep Order, He Tells
Governor of New Mexico
Quick Collapse Predicted
Former Union Chief. Now
Operator. Insists the Men
Are Willing to Go Back

WASHINGTON, April 8.-'lhc A.
mlhlstration's determination not n me-.
Federal troops in the coal strike unless
eii state agencies fail i'll preserving or
Ger Was set forth clearly to-day aftc,
{" conference between President uar-
clng and Secretary Of War Weeks A
request for troops from the Governor
OF New Mexico was fatty denied.
Inc decision left the House labor
committee as the only Federal agency
attempting to deal with the strike, ana
although It continued its hearings dur
ing the dsy there was 10 indication
s'aO 'ne mass Of testimony taEen
Mo"'u !ead TO action in the near fn-
susc. io-cays contribution to tie
1-:,'',l 81, ',l''ee ~ record was statement bv
az H. lenna, former miners unioY
o.n''ai ana nov an operator blamino.
tne present crisis on failure Of tho n,nt,
to keep their contracts. '''' '''c'
Ns an announcement Of tbe Ad,,:,,;n
'r2t!on's hands-oif policy so far q, ,.7a
OF federa troops is concerned Sac-
feeaIE Weeks made public. after b;s
yislt to the White HOUSE. a le,epran, 10 -.
No!ethor -Hechem OF New Mexico. 70.
plE4hg to an appeal 1or helm in hand-
ing the situation III his state.
Harding Declares Policy
"unless disorder DEVELOPS to = min,
where state authorities are unshtn ~
nIeserVe !n7 ORDER said the message
FeoeIai uops cannot bc used in ronl
hect.on With the coal strike"
Despite this attitude, however - j.
Nho"n that the Administration is
watching the strike closely. and viii
not De unpreparcd should (: yitpation
ARISE which in the Presidents op;nior
%a1Eants y; v ar Department interferenco.
l ne department Of Justice also is keen.
i.hg ADVISED of conditions, althoue.l, SO
1sr i. too, has stood l,v its annn',"csN
purpoee OF onintervcntioa.
A prediction that the strike soon
would collapse without pressure from
tAe government OF any other outside
sxencE vas made before the House
committee by Mi. Penna, who declared
the rank and file Of the union woi,ld
not long continue to support thei~
leaders under present conditions Hc
asserted that the union officials had
pursued course which had madc ire
contract with the organization "value-
less
Holds Leadership Detcriorated
Once president o. the Unitsd Mine
Work ers Of America and now secrotarr
Of the Indiana Coal Operators Asso-
cation, Mr.. Penna told the committee
he had seen and understood both sides
Of the picture. The unions in former
under present leadership they did not
hesitate to break contracts In the
bituminous fields the strikes came. lie
asserted, mot. because the operators
would not meet the miners. but be
cause some Of the operators would not
meet the union in the group the union
demands"
1t was "hopelcss." Mr. Penna told
Chairman Nolan, when the latter EN-
phasi2ec the desire TO get strike set
tlement, to Try out again the systems
Of interstate negotiations in the CEN
trail competitive field, which have been
agreements, $50 long as Ohio and Pitts
burgh operators stay out lie but
tressed his accusation that the miners
union 10 longer kept its contracts BY
introducing the record of "seven hun
dred strikes in Indiana since 1920" dur
ing the life Of the last wage contract.
With prescnt-day officers Of the mine
workers in the room Mr. Penna charged
that the union was NOW pervaded with
q spirit of TO hell with the operators,
which did not exist in my time The
strikes came, lie said, because the
union officers cannot control their men,
and 7 am charitable when | put that
construction upon their situation.
Time to Reduce Wages
~ advocated the reduction OF wages
but once in my life he exclaimed, "but
that time is now"
representative London, Socialist, OF
New York. asked Nh. Penna what
should be done TO get regular instead
OF intermittent employment for min
ers, and Mr. Pe@rs, tirst expressing his
opinion thai the industry was not so
seasonal as some others declared.
The only way know is to get the
Yagcs down TO the level and the con-
dtions as disagreeablo in our indus
tr- as theS are in others, because as
tie situation is roE-, a man who once
can get, into the mines never lesves
them"