New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-22
Takes Personal Charge of
Two Combined National
Problems i'm Determine
ton TO Bring Settlement
Fuel Workers Must
Bow to Commission
Plans Priority for Roads
and Essential Industry;
Hooper TO See President
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, July 21.-Presi-
dent Harding is determined to force
compulsory arbitration on the strik-
ing coal miners unless they will go
back to work at their old wage scales
pending adjustment of their con-
troversy with the operators. Mean
while he plans to keep the railroads
and essential industries running by
rationing the available coal supply.
The President feels that the coal
and rail strikes are closely con-
nected, and must be settled. After
to-day's Cabinet meeting he In
structed Secretary of Commerce
Hoover to draw up plans for COM
nilsson of five members to handle
the distribution of coal to essential
industries in the present emergency.
At the same time it was learned that
the President purposes the forlna-
tion at an early date Of permanent
coal commission, acting in disputes
in the coal industry as does the Rail-
road Labor Board in Transportation
matters.
While the steps to settle the coal
controversy are being set afoot, the
President is also determined to make
strike, although the failure of the ef-
forts of Senator Albert B. Cummins
last night to induce the road execu-
tives 20 yield on the principal issue
still at stake-the restoration of
seniority rights to the strikers If they
go back-indicated that no immediate
agreement is in sight. President
Harding summoned Ben W. Hooper,
chairman Of the Railroad Labor Board,
to Washington and will confer with
him tomorrow morning. What plans
the President has in mind were not
indicated at the White House, but he
is known to feel that the roads must
be kept running.
Whether the governm Mt is planning
legal steps to end the rail strike, as
reported to-day, was not confirmed by
would say was that the coal strike had
linked itself closely to the rail paral-
ysis by making many of the roads
short of fuel, and that the government
was seeking to prepare for every
| emergency in dealing with both con-
troversies. The Attorney General en-
phasized that as the production of coal
is essential 20 transportation, the gov
ernment has the same right to protect
men engaged in the coal industry as to
protect the mails in Interstate COM
merce.
Call o Miners Impends
1t was Termed to-day that the Presi-
dent within few days would call on
the miners to go back to work and pro-
vide the nation with fuel pending the
adjustment of their dispute by the coal
commission. Only a voluntary agree
ers, Of which there is said to be some
hope, will avoid the formation of this
body.
Whether the miners will accept the
Presidents proposal to go back to work
is not sure, though there is said to be
ground for the belief that they will
Those holding this view say that John
L. Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers, and his lieutenants would be
glad to accede, having won already
more concessions than they mad hoped
for at the beginning of the strike.
Should they refuse, however the
President is determined to impose COM
pulsory arbitration upon them. He is
convinced that he does not possess the
power to do this, and consequently will
call the House Of Representatives back
to Washington to rush through what
ever legislation may be necessary.
Meanwhile, the President is willing
to give the operators brief period
to determine if the can produce
enough coal to meet the emergency.
Several Of his advisers assured him to-
day at the Cabinet meeting that it is
utterly hopeless, at this late day, to
produce enough coal to supply tho
country's necessities unless the union
miners go back to work, and even then
the best possible movement of coal
trains, especially to the Great Lakes.
must be had.
Secretary Hoover is expected to de-
pend chiefly on fuel from the non-union
| gent present needs. 1t was indicated
that the commission Of five which he
will form to take charge of distribu-
tion will include two coal operators,
a representative of the railroads and
delegates from the Department Of Com
merce and the interstate Commerce
| Commission.
The commissions chief purpose
would be to distribute the available
| coal supplies in such way as to pro-
vide first for the railroads and then
for essential Industries. The fact that
| the greatest shortages to date have
been reported from New England and
| the Northwest makes it probable that
/ special attention viii be given thoss
/ two regions.
No Mines Rave Resumed Work
/ 1t was said to-day by Cabinet
member that the President has not yet
received information that any Of the
operators he invited to resume pro-
duction have been able to get salts
| factory operations under way. Nor has
1 he had any requests, it was declared,
FOR Federal troops, with the exception
Of one demand for guards for some