The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-18

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The 9Presid ennt conclud ed his
add ress at Il: o. p. M fter speak
ing forty minutes y 38 ~ So
.H Efforts Reviewed
After reviewing efforts OF the
goyernme nt to forestalI the coal
strike OF April I Including invita-
tons to both operators and miners
Railroad Labor Boards decisions
around a conference table, the pres
ident continued:
eft is to be noted that when the
suspension began large stocks OF
coal were on hand. While prices
we're higher than those paid during
the war. Buying was only impelled
by necessity and there was a be-
lief that Neoal must give way to
post war re-adjustment. When the
stocks on hand began to reach dim
mutton to hinder trans portat1on, ap
proxim atelyg June 1, overtures were
initiated by the government IN the
hope Of settlement. None Of thes
avaiIed.
"a conference Of the coal oper-+
ators' Associations and the general
and district officials Of the United
Mine Workers was called to meet
inEWashington on July 1. the de
signation of representation was
left to the officials OF the various
organizations, and there was nation
wide representation except from
the snon-union fields Of the country.
Before the joint meeting, express
ed the deep con Germ for the coun-=
try and invited them to meet at
conference table and end the p1s-
putes between them. The confer
ence did not develop even&a hope.
The operators were asking for
their district or territorial confer
ences-the workers demanded ma
tional settlement on old basis
IA Declares Plan Was Fair
r "Appraising correctly the hope
lessness Of the situation, again
invited operators and workers to
meet with me and rendered 3
means OF settlement so Justly IN
spired that it was difficult to see
how any one believing in indus-
trial peace and justice to all con-
cerned could decline it. In sub!
stance it called on the operators
tn open their mines, on the mine
work ers to resume work at the
same pay and under the same con-.
dtions as provided at the time the
strike began. In turn, the govern
ment was to create at once a coal
commission. or two of them If pre-
ferred. SO that one could deal with
the bituminous sitaution, the
other with the problems in the
anth racite field
N"Among the commissioners We're
to be representa- of the oPerS
ators representatives OF tn mine
workers and outstanding dis IN
terested and able representative
Of the American public. The corn
mission was to be instructed 10
direct it's first inquiry to the rate
Of wage to be paid for the period
ending next April 1 and then TO
enter upon fact finding INQUIRY
into eevry phase of the INDUSTRY,
and pont the way to avoid 1uIure
SUSPENSION in production me
disputants all Endorsed the suS-
gestion of a fact finding conmiS-
sion. The anthracite operators
nromptlv accepted the entire pro-
nosaJ The mine workers &refusei
to resume work undeh the arb ltra-
ton plan The majority OF t the
bftuminous operators filed an &C
ceptance, but a considerable MI a.
ority declined the proposal.
At Mercy of Miners
"CJnder these circumstances ma v
ing no authority to demand compll-
ance. the government had no sother
course than to invite a resump t1on
Of pro duction under the rights or
all parties to the controversy VITA
assurance of government protec-
ton OF each and every one IN hia
lawful pursuits. But little OF no
new N production followed and the
simple but significant truth was
revealed that, except for such coal
as comes from the district WORKED
by non-organized miners, the coun.
try was at the mercy OF the miners
union. District leaders informed
me that their workmen were anxi-
Gus to return to their jobs but that
they were not permitted TODD So
hundreds Of wives Of workers have
addressed. the White House, be-.
seeching settlement alleging that
they know no gievance and there
is an amending story Of appeals for
relief from suffering, where mere
expression Of need ought to ma
ready compliance.
""At every stage the governm ent
has a just neutrality regarding
wage scales and working contracts.
There are fundamental evils in our
present system of producing and
distributing which make the wage
problem difficult. In the biturnln-
Gus coal fields are vastly more
mines than are requisite to tbs
country's needs and there are 20O,.
900 more miners than are needed
to produce In continuous employ
ment the country's normal require
mentS 5.sG 15stgt-al. II It s5z &