The New York herald., 1922-07-20

right 20 work. In the exercise of the
right to work all law abiding citizens
are entitled to the fullest and most COM
i.ete protection Of the Government both
state and national.
There can be but one government in
the United States and that is the Gov
ernment elected by the whole people.
No minority of the people. no matter
how highly organized, can be allowed to
control the Government of all the peo-
pie.
president Harding asked. as Presi-
dent Roosevelt asked in 1902, the mine
owners and the miners to arbitrate their
differences. A majority OF the mine
owners consented. The miners refused.
The President now has requested that
the mines be opened and proposes TO
ali who are willing to work be pro-
tected to the fullest extent II necessary
by all the forces of the States and ma
tion. 1t seems the plainest and most
absolute duty OF all patriotic Americans
- sustain the President without reser-
walton of purpose or evasion at this
crisis when he is standing for law, order
and justice, precious above all else to
the people of the United States
The policy Of the Administration to
give mine operators protection in their
will be made contingent on an under
taking on the part of the operators that
no attempt will be made to profteer at
the expense of the public, In the In
terest Of which it is made plain the
Government is acting.
To BE Basis of Pledge
That mo profiteering' clause will
implicitly lie in a pledge Of aid from
the Government or from state authori-
ties was indicated in high Administra-
ton circles. 1t is not expected, how
ever, that President Harding will have
anything tosay on this question until
operators disclose tendency to raise
the price Of coal mined with the aid Of
State or Federal protection.
The Government has not forgotten
the profiteering raids of the last coal
strike. The question was brought to the
attention of officials again today in con-
nection with the stand taken by the
Governor of Colorado against giving
protection to profiteering operators.
This position was strongly indorsed by
spokesman for the Administration. who
said that the slogan should be. "Protec-
ton for producing coal for the public,
but no protection for profteering.'
Federal troops, 1t was made plain to-
day, will not be used in any sense to
operate the mines. but only to protect
such labor as the operators are. able to
procure. This view was categorically
set forth by Secretary of War Weeks.
who declared that it is not the busl-
ness OF the Government to prevent the
mines from being flooded through miners
leaving the pumps but to protect men
willing to work these pumps.
1--WE are not going to force men to
work." the Secretary said. 1T is UP
to the operators to get their own labor.
We shall protect that labor whenever
protection is necessary"
Julius H. Barnes, president of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States called on all members Of the or
ganization by letter to-day to take active
steps in support of the program which
President Harding has urged upon the
Governors of the twenty-eight coal
States.
Mr.. Bnrnes's Letter.
The letter of Mr.. Barnes said in part:
For over three months production Of
coal has been suspended in fields, the
output Of which is essential 10 the
maintenance of the country's activities
and welfare. Throughout these three
months there has been opportunity for
coal operators and miners to arrive at
alsettlement a of wages and working con-
ditions, but without result. The coal
reserves of the country have conse-
quently been drawn down until to-day
they are fast approaching depletion The
production Of fields in which work has
not been suspended has not been suf-
feient to prevent this result. made
quate production will soon force the
shutdown OF important industries with
the inevitable train of unemployment
and distress and an aggravated repeti-
tion of the conditions Of last winter.
Such situation cannot be contemplated
without exhaustion Of every effort to
avert II.
although coal mining Is resumed
controversies over wages and working
conditions will remain. AS the means
offered by the President for settling
these controversies after resumption of
coal mining have been rejected 1t be-
comes appropriate for State and local
Authorities to seek ways of adjustment
In this way they should have the sup
port of business organizations and OF
public sentiment"