The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-19
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 Gentlemen of the Congress-:
 It is manifestly my duty to bring to your attention the industrial sltu- ation which confronts the country. The situation growing out of the prevailing railway and coal mining strikes is so serious, so menacing to 1 the nations welfare, that 1 should be remiss if I failed frankly to lay the matter before you and at the same time acquaint you and the whole people with such efforts the exe- cutive branch of the Government has good offices to effect a settlement.
 The suspension of the coal industry dates back to last April 1, when the working agreement between mine ! operators and the United Mine Workers came to an end. Anticipat- ing that expiration of contract, which nent's sanction in 1920. the present Administration sought, as early as last October conferences between the operators and miners in order to facilitate either new or extended agreement in order to avoid any suspension of production when April l arrived.
 At that time mine workers declined to confer, though the operators were agreeable, the mine workers excusing, their decEnation on the ground that the union officials could have no au- thority to negotiate until after their annual convention.
 Invited Mine Conference.
 A short time prior to the expiration of the working agreement the mine workers invited a conference with the operators in the central competitive field covering the States of Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, in spite of the union declination of the Governments informal suggestion for the conference, five months before. the Government. informally. but sincerely, commended the conference, but it was declined by certain groups of operators, and the coal mining g controversy ended in the strike of April 1.
 It was instantly made nationwide, so far as the organized mine workers could control. and included many dis tricts in the bituminous field where there was neither grievance nor dis pute and effected a complete tie-up of the production in the anthracite field.
 It is to be noted that when the sus- pension 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 ne- cessity, and there was a belief that coal must yield to the postwar read 1ustment- When the stocks on hand began to reach such diminution to menace industry and hinder transpor- tation, approximately June 1, over lures were initiated by the govern ment in the hope of expediting settle ment.
 None of these avai1ed. Individual and distinct tenders of settlement on the part of operators - in some in- stances appeals for settlement-were wholly unavailing. The dominnn groups among the operators were in sistent on having district agree ment; the dominant mine workers were demanding a nationwide settle ment. The government, being with clement in the coal industry. could only volunteer its good offices in find. ing a way of adjustmers
 Accordingly, a conference of tht coal operators associations and the general and district officials of the United Mine Workers was called tc meet in Washington on July 1. Int designation of representation was lief to the officials of the various organi zalons and there was nationwide representation, except from the non union fields of the country.
 Told of CountryS Concern.
 Before the joint meeting express ed the deep concern of the countr. and invited them to meet at a con ference table and end the disputes be tween them. The conference did no dVlop even a hope.
 The operators were asking for thei district or territorial conferences; tn workers demanded a national settle ment on the old basis. Appraisin correctly the hopelessness of the sit uauon, I again invited both operator and workers to meet with me and te dered a means of settlement so justl inspired that it was difficult to SC how any one believing in industrie peace and justice to all concerne could decline it.
 In substance it called on the oper etors to open their mines; on tn workers to resume work at the sam pay and under the same working con ditions as prevailed at the time tn strike began
 In turn the Government was create at once a coal commission, C two of them, if preferred by all pal ties to the dispute, that one coul deal with the bituminous situation the other with the problems in tn anthracite field.
 Among the commissioners were be representatives of the operator representatives of the mine worker and outstanding disinterested and apl representatives of the American put lie. The commission was to be il structed to direct its first inquiry 1 the rate of wage to be paid for th period ending next April 1, and the to enter upon a faSt finding inquir into every phase of the industry an point the way to avoid future su pensions in production. The displ ants all indorsed the suggestion of >,Hnding commission.
 anthracite operators prompt