The Washington herald., 1922-08-19

1t Is manifestly my duty to bring
70 ynur attention the industrial
situation which confronts the
ycounty. The situation growing
out 81 the prevailing railway and
coal-h mining strikes is so serious.
SO ntsnacing to the nations well
fare. .that I should be remiss II I
failed frankly to lay the matter
before you and at the same time
acquSint you and the whole people
with tsuch efforts as the executive
branch of the government has made
by the voluntary exercise of its
good offices to effect a settlement.
Thu suspension of the coal in
dustry dates back to last April l,
when the working agreement be-
tween mine operators and the
United Mine Workers came to an
end. Anticipating that expiration
of contract. which was negotiated
with .the governments sanction In
1920. : the present administration
sought. as early as last October,
conferences between the operators
and miners in order to facilitate
either a new or extended agree
ment in Order to avoid any suspen-
sion of production when April
arrived. At that time the mine
workers declined to confer. though
the operators were agreeable, the
mine workers excusing. their decli-
nation on the ground that the
union officials could have no au-
,khorisy to negotiate until after
kheir annual convention.
II Asked Four-stnte Conference.
A snort time prior to the eSpira-
tion Of the working agreement the
mine workers invited a conference
with the operators in the central
competitive field, covering the
States of Pennsylvania. Ohio. In
diana and Illinois. and in spite of
the union declination of the gov
ernment's informal suggestion for
the conference, five months before,
the government. informally but
sincerely, commended the confer
ence. but II was declined by certain
groups of operators. and the coal
mining controversy ended in the
strike of April 1. 1t was instantly
made nationwide. so far as the
organized mine workers could con-
troll, and included many districts
in the bituminous field where there
was neither grievance nor dispute
and effected a complete tie-up of
the production in the anthracite
field.
1t is to be noted that when the
suspension began large stocks OF
coal were on hand, mined at wages
higher than those paid during the
war. there was only the buying
impelled by necessity. and there
was belief that coal must yield
TO the postwar readjustment-
khen the stocks on hand began to
Teach such diminution as to mem
ace industry and hinder transpor-
l. tation, approximately June 1, over
lures were initiated by the gov
eminent in the hope of expediting
settlement None of these availed-
Settlement Appeals Fail.
Individual and district tenders OF
settlement on the part of opera
tor.-in some instances appeals for
settlement-were wholly unavail-
ing. The dominant groups among
the operators were insistent on
having district agreements; the
dominant mine workers were de-
manding a nationwide settlement.
The government being without
authority to enforce a strike set
Element in the coal industry. could
only volunteer its good Offices In
finding a way of adjustment.
Accordingly. a conference of the
coal operators associations and the
general and district officials of
the United Mine Workers was
called to meet in Washington on
July 1. The designation of repre-
sentation was left to the officials
of the various organizations. and
there was nationwide representa-
tion, except from the non-union
fields of the country. Before the
Joint meeting / expressed the deep
Concern Of the country and invited
them to meet at a conference table
and end the disputes between them.
The conference did not develop
1 even a hope. The operators were
~asking for their district or terri |
torial conferences; the workers de-
manded national settlement on old
bases.
Poposed Reopening Mines.
Appraising correctly the hope
lessness of he situation. L again
invited both operators and work
ers to meet with me. and rendered
a means of settlement so justly in
spired that it was difficult TO see
how any ore believing in indus
trial peace and justice to all con-
cerned could decline it. In sub
stance 1t called on the operators
to open their mines. on the mine
workers to resume work at the
same pay and under the same
working conditions as prevailed
at the time the strike began. In /
turn, the government was to Gre
ate at once a coal commission. !
or two of them, if preferred by all f.!
parties to the dispute so that one
could, deal with the bituminous
situation, the other with the prob |
lens in the anthracite field.
Amang the commissioners were to 1
be representatives of the operators. |
representatives of the mine workers |
and outstanding. disinterested and |
able representatives of the Amer |
Jan public. The commission was
10 be. instructed to direct its first |
inquiry to the rate of wage to be
paid for the period ending next
April l. and then to enter upon a
fact-1nding inquiry into every
phase ,of the industry and point the
wav to avoid future suspensions in
production. The disputnnts all in
dorse6 the suggestion of a fact
fndink commission The anthracite
operators promptly accepted the en-
tire proposal. The mine workers
refused to resume work under the
arbitration plan The majority or
the bituminous operators filed an
acceptance. but a considerable min
ority declined the proposal.
Assured U. s. Protection
Under these circumstances. hav-
ing no authority to demand COM
pliance. the government had no
other course than to invite a re-
sumption of production under the |