The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-06-27

to Protect
Coal Users
Government Operation Of the
Mines Will Be Last Resort II
Conferences Fail to End
Strike Of Miners.
Lewis Opposes Truce
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Omaha REQ Leased Wir-.


dent Harding is determined to take
aggressive action to end the coal nine
strike or bring about the resumption
OF full production OF fuel was dis
closed tonigh, following a protracted
conference between the executive
and Secretary of Labor Davis and
John l.. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers.
Mr.. Harding's immediate endcavor
is being directed toward bringing the
miners and the operators into con-
ference on a settlement OF the wage
dispute. He sounded Lewis on the
acceptance OF a compromise plan OF
negotiation, which the miners leader
did not accept but which the prcsi-
dent asked Secretary of Commerce
Hoover to put up to the operators at
once.
The president indicated that If he
fails to bring the operators and
miners into conference within a rea-
sonable time he will feel compelled
to adopt more drastic measures to
protect the people from the danger
of privation next winter resulting
from a coal famine.
May Furnish Guards.
One plan under consideration is
to ask congress for legislation pro-
viding for compulsory arbitration of
the differences between the operators
and the miners. 1t is suggested that the
arbtral tribunal might take the form
Of the railway labor board. Lewis said
the mine workers would oppose and
resist any such measure.
As a last resort the administration
is prepared to consider government
operation of the mines. at least to the
extent of opening the mines to all
miners who desire to work and pro-
viding armed forces for their pro-
lection.
Secretary Davis tonight said he is
extremely optimistic of the president
succeeding in his efforts to bring
about a settlement through volun-
tary conference of the miners and
operators, but earlier in the day he
had hinted at the more aggressive
measures under consideration when
he said that in the event of the fail
ure of the present efforts there might
be "a peculiar turn such as has never
happened in any previous strike"
Conferences Discussed.
President Harding discussed with
Mr.. Lewis the possibilities of district
or state conferences, to which the
operators have agreed, but in which
agreement the miner leaders main
tain they are not sincere, because
of the intense competition between
districts. The latest word from the
operators was letter received by
Secretary Davis this morning. 1t
said they would negotiate on the
state or district basis, but on no
other Mr. Davis did not make pub
lie the signature.
Among the operators, it is ad-
mitted that minority in the indus
try is willing to enter national or
central competitive states conference,
but it is generally insisted that the
real desires of the mine owners are
unknown because there is no central
organization and that many feel they
can enter no conference because of
the injunction of the federal court at
Indianapolis.
Mr.. Lewis said virtually all of the
largest coal companies in the btu
minous fields operate mines in sew
eral states and declared it is idle to
assume that they would make any
agreement that would put their own
operations at a disadvantage"
Opposed to Truce.
The labor leader was questioned
on the acceptability of a truce while
an attempt was being made to settle
the controversy. He said a truce
would be temporary settlement and
indicated that such suggestion
would be given no serious considera-
ton by the miners. He was asked
about the real situation respecting
the coal stocks, and said:
"The coal situation is already
acute and will become increasingly
so. After July !, when the freight
rate decrease becomes effective, trc-
mendous orders will be placed for
coal and the supply will not be suf
hcient. Unless the strike is settled
in the immediate future the railroads
will find themselves unable to trans
port the tonnage necessary for the
of the country"
The loss of one fourth the annual
supply OF anthracite. which Mr..
Lewis said already has taken place,
will mean that the Atlantic seaboard
will be required to make heavy pur-
chases OF bituminous coal. He added:
"The organized miners can stay
out indefinitely. There is no lessen