The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-07-21
HARDING ORDERS
MINES RE0PENED.
President Asks Governors to Pro-
teot Men Wiling to Work.
TELEGRAPHs 20 EXECUTIVES
Federal Forces to Be Held in Reserve
Olives Assurance of Prompt and
Full Support Wherever Local
Agencies Are inadequate.


House telegram TO the governors OF 70
coal-producing states, President HARD
ing requests full protection for the
union mines which an attempt will DE
made to reopen as result OF his ORDER
to the operators.
The President, in his message, gives
the governors the emphatic assurance
OF prompt and full support of the fed
eral government wherever you find
your own agencies of law and order in
adequate to meet the situation"
s0The right of free men to work" the
President states must be guaranteed
to the fullest extent by both the state
and federal government.
Text of Message.
Text of the Presidents message fol-
lows:
"The proposal of the federal govern
ment to the United Mine Workers and
to the various coal operators, whose
mines are under suspension, to submit
all questions in dispute to national
coal commission for arbitration, has
been declined. The mine workers de-
clined as body The majority of the
bituminous operators pledged unquali-
fed acceptance. The anthracite opera
tors filed unconditional acceptance. A.
minority of the bituminOus operators
accepted the principle OF arbitration,
but made specifications which could
not be considered / had proposed
that the operators and mine workers
in dispute should Immediately resume
coal production under the wage scales
and working conditions which pre-
vailed at the time of the strike on last
April i; that every question in dispute
should go to national commission TO
be composed of three representatives
of the mine workers, three representa-
tives of the operators and five repre-
sentatives of the American public. 1t
was proposed to make the commission
final authority on all disputes until
next March, and meanwhile the COM
mission was to inaugurate a searching
inquiry into every phase of the coal in
dustry, in order to recommend the way
to maintain understanding between
workmen and employers, to promote
steady employment and assure a con-
tinuous and ample fuel supply.
No Other Course.
"The failure to secure the acceptance
of this proposal for a voluntary adjust
ment left me no other course but to in
vite the mine operators to return. to
their mines and resume activities.
81 trust you will find it consistent
to second this invitation, if you have
not already done so, with the invitation
TO all miners and operators to resume
their work This invitation should be
accompanied by such assurance OF
maintained order and the protection of
lawful endeavor as will give assurance
to everybody concerned. want to
convey to you in this message the as
surance of the prompt and full support
of the federal government whenever
and wherever you find your own agen-
cies of law and order inadequate to
meet the situation.
Must Protect Workers.
"Your state government and the fed
eral government are jointly RESPONSE
BILE for maintained conditions under
which free men, willing to work, may
work in safety. We are responsible
for the production and the transporta-
ton of a fuel supply ample for the ne
ceseities of the American people and
the public utilities which serve them,
particularly the railways engaged in
interstate commerce.
"Our present duty is to guarantee Sc
curity in the exercise of these rights,
security in all lawful operations, and
afford a safe opportunity for that pro-
ductiOn and distribution demanded by
the necessities of tn American peo-
pie.
Duty Is Plain.
There has been no government as
sumption of a part in the dispute be-
tween organized workers and organized
employers. / did offer the only avail
able agency which 1 know to effect
settlement, and these good offices have
not availed.
"Tt becomes necessary, therefore, in
the name Of common welfare, to invite
production In the fulfillment of that
obligation which attaches to any Amer
lean industry engaged in providing any
public necessityS~and to afford security
to all men alike who are ready and
willing to work and serve the common
need. No cause is so important as that
of common welfare, and, there must be
the suppression of every lawful him
drance to the service of that cause. To
the task Of lawful protection and the
maintenance of order the federal gov
eminent pledges TO you every assist
ance at it's command"