Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-08
WOULD ARBTRATE
STRIKE OF; MINERS
Administration, However, Sees
Little Prospect Of Accept
ance Of Offer
COUNT ON PUBLIC PRESSURE
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT


etaR Correspondent Evenins Public ledger
COPYRIGHT, 1881. by Public LEDGER compdnl
Washington. July S.-One of the firs
things President Harding will have tc
do upon his return IL to decide on the
next step Of the Government in the
coal strike situation. From well -
informed source in the Admipistratio ion
II was learned today that the operators
and miners are absolutely deadlocked.
Representatives Of the Government in
touch with the recent conferences feel
that neither side Is bluffing. The EN- /.
ployers and the mine workers are lust
as determined to fight issues out TO n
conclusion today as they were when
the strike began
Indeed. the unions are probably more
full Of fight than they were in the be.
ginning. Their success in maintaining
discipline has filled them with conf .
dpnce. They have not only held their
own members In line. but they have
gained membership among the non
union miners.
They have held the production of coal
down to the point where the pinch will
soon be felt by the country. And they
are probably encouraged by the strike
which has broken out among the rail
road workers. Only Frank Harrington
the Illinois miners leader, is supposed
70 be willing to compromise. for it is
believed he ran obtain better terms for
his men from operators now ehan he is
likely to get in the end by keeping up
the strike.
Will Offer Arbitration
The logical thing for the Government
70 do is to offer ar bitration to the dis
putants. And 1t is believed this will
be the course Mr.. Harding will follow,
AS to the prospects that arbitration
will be accepted, members Of the Ad-
ministration are not hopeful. Both
union leaders and operators are OBJ
stinate. Neither side wants a cpmpro-
mise. The issue IS too vital TO both
sides. No compromise could be made
which did not to some extent impair rho
national agreements and this the union
leaders feel would be fatal to the or
ganization. On the other side. the nom
union mines are steadily forcing union
miners I. the wall and the mine owners
see their salvation only in breaking the
national agreements.
that when the President offers arbl
tration the pressure of public opinion
WI, be such as to force one side or the
other to accept. And if one side does
the other will have difficulty in stand
ing out. But this is only a slight hope
It is frankly admitted that the prospects
lie In the opposite direction.
Alternative Step Uncertain
II arbitration Is refused, the Admin
istration has not made up its mind
what shall be the next step. 1t has no
power to compel settlement.
As national emergency will soon
arise II the strike goes on, 1t is held
Congress has power to intervene and
pass laws to protect the public interest
President Harding will be strongly ad-
vised to ;.sk Congress for authority to
seize and operate enough of the mines
where the strike prevails to supplement
the supply Of coal which is coming from
non .union sources. 1t Is believed here
that this course will. in the end, be
followed.
The strikers would be more opposed
10 this than would the mine opera tors,
greatly as they disfavor eve.. temporary
mine operation by the Government. II
an adequate supply Of coal is provided
through Government operation Of some
mines, the strike will then become a
contest Of endurance between the work.
ers and the operators, and il Is be-
lieved that the workers will be forced to
Qiy0 IN.