The Washington herald., 1922-07-11
Both Sides Considering
Peace Proposals Made
By Harding.
URGES COMMISSION
TO FIX NEW SCALE
Requests Miners to Re.
turn to Work Until
Dispute Is Settled.
The text OF President HardIng..
proposal to the coal conference will
be found on page 5.

President Harding has proposed
TO mine operators and employees
that they arbitrate their differ
ences. but the basis OF his proposal
is such that both side= wish plenty
of time to consider his program.
Hence, while the President asked
for an answer to his proposal i'm
mediateIy, IL possible. the operators
have informed him that they will
have to consider the plan most
carefully and deliberately and the
miners have declared IL will be
week before they can say yes" or
no" A conference of the fl23
members of the miners policy COM
mittee has been called for next
Monday by President John L. Lewis.
Until that time. therefore, the
mine strike continues its present
status.
The anthracite operators told the
President they will make a separate
reply possibly by tomorrow. This
reply. Ut was thought. will be favor
able because the anthracite group
have all along favored Federal ar
bitration.
President A. NJ. ogIe. of the Ma
tional Coal Association, declined to
fix a time limit within which the
reply OF the bituminous operators
will be made. but expressed the be-
lief that 1t should be ready by the
end of the week.
Would Appoint Commission.
Informed by Secretaries Hoover
and Davis. who have been sitting
in on the coal conferences here, that
a deadlock existed. the President
summoned representatives of all
groups before him at the White
House and informed them of the
governments proposal. Briefly II
pfop,Ase, -ytEe>7---- = ~
THAT mine workers return to
their posts Immediately on the scale
of wages which expired March 81
and that idle mines resume opera
tions.
IThat a coal commission be
created to consist Of three repre-
sentatives of the workers. three of
the operators and five of the pub
lie, the latter to be named by the
President.
3-That this commission seek to
effect a temporary wage scale by
August 10. and, failing in this. that
the late wage scale be effective un-
til March /, 1929.
Aims at Permanent Peace.
THAT this commission make a
thorough study, fully empowered by
legislation which the President will
obtain from Congress, covering the
whole industry, with a view to
forming recommendations that will
effect stability in mining and per-
manent industrial peace.
The President, in his address to
the two groups, emphasized that he
was acting in the public interest,
with due regard for all concerned"
Nevertheless, both operators and
miners pointed out that his pro-
gram constituted settlement"
not a basis of negotiation" such
as each side has been quarreling
about. 1t calls for a national wage
agreement, no immediate reduction
in wages and a thorough probe of
the Industry. all of which the
miners have demanded. On the
other hand it contemplates arbitra-
tion, instead of direct negotiation,
and stipulates that non-union mines
should continue operation without
molestation of their present person
mel by union workers. both of which
are distinctly distasteful to the
miners.
Beth Sides Marking Time.
So. with both sides noting unsatis-
factory elements In the. proposal,
their respective answers have been
postponed indefinitely.
Because the Presidents plan con-
templates thorough probe OF the
mining industry, through co-opera-
ton with Congress. there was great
interest at the Capitol in what the
President might suggest.
THE President will ask Congress
to confer authority for the most
thorough investigation, and to make
appropriations necessary to do such
work." Mr.. Harding Informed the
conferees. The commission shall
make recommendations looking TO
the establishment and maintenance
Of Industrial peace in the coal in
dustry, the elimination of waste due
to intermittency and instability, and
suggest plans for dependable fuel
supply"
Calls for Huge Task.
Since stabilizing the coal industry
would be a gigantic task. probably
necessitating special legislation, II
was regarded as certain that at least
two members OF Congress-one SEN
ator and one Representatives
be included in the five men the Pres
ident would select to represent the
public on the proposed coal comnis-
sion. Secretaries Hoover and Davis
would likely be two others and. some
expert iike George Otis Smith, di-
rector of the Geological Survey,
whose counsel in the present coal
crisis has been constantly sought,
would probably be the fifth member.
The whole problem, however. is
back upon the shoulders of the par
ties in conflict.
"The government cannot settle II
for you." tile President said. IT
will force no man to work against
his free will. II will force no man to
employ men against the free exer-
else of an employers rights"
But" he added. you are an In
separable part OF the public inter-
est. With due regard for all con-
cerned. 1t ought to be easy to find
way to resumed activities and
command the approval Of the pub