The Washington times., 1922-03-31
Cabinet Convened to
Discuss u. S. Policies
During Mine Strike

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discussed for two hours today the
impending tie-up in the nations coal
. fields, now but a few hours away.
At the conclusion Of the meeting.
members said there had been no
change In the Governments policy
to sit tight, keep hands off, and
await developments"
While the Cabinet sat 1t one end
OF Pennsylvania avenue discussing
the situation, agitation increased in
Congress, at the other end. tkat
something be done.
Just what could be done was not
clear even to members Of Congress,
but in both houses recourse was
taken to resolutions of inquiry.
Developments in the coal strike
situation here today were:
/. Senator Calder R) Of New York
introduced a resolution authorizing
the Federal Trade Commission to
make a sweeping investigation Of
the whole coal industry from top
to bottom"
2. The House Labor Committee
continued hearings on the Bland
resolution. providing for a Congress
sional investigation Of the causes OF
the strike and Of the coal industry.
8. r. G.. Tyron, Government coal
statistician, informed Congress there
IL enough reserve coal to run in
dustry on q normal basis for fifty
three days.
4. Samuel Gompers, president Of
the A. r. of L., issued q public
statement, characterizing the nus
pension Of activities as lockout
by the mine owners, instead of II
strike" by the miners.
Willing for Showdown.
Having failed utterly to persuade
the coal owners to meet the miners
for the adjustment Of q new con-
tract, the Government. to all ap-
pearances, IL willing that the issue
shall go to q Showdown"
Not until the public begins to suf-
fer. either through lack Of coal or
from profiteering dealers, will be
Government take any action unless
requested to do so by the parties in
the controversy. 1t was stated Of
ficially.
The big strike will be ushered in
at one minute past midnight with
two warnings from the Government
--one to the miners that there shall
be no violence. the other to the oper-
ators that there shall be no profit
sering.
Both Sides In Good Shape.
Both sides are in excellent shape
to stand a long fight. according to
Government officials in close touch
with the situation. The operators
have piled up the greatest reserve
stocks of coal in years to carry the
public through what is expected to
be a long grind. There is sufficient
coal on hand to last the country for
nearly three months II not another
lump II produced In that time. Rail
roads and public utilities. first to
feel the pinch of a coal strike, arc ex-
ceptionally well prepared.
The miners, too, feel they are well
prepared. The United Mine Work
ers enter the contest with $4,000
members, in both anthracite and
bituminous fields. and there are
well-filled Golfers to meet exigencies.
The great reliance, however,
where the miners are concerned, is
being placed In public opinion.
They believe public opinion will con-
denim the refusal Of the coal oper-
that IL things come to a showdown,
the same public opinion will COM
pei the Government to intervene
and force the operators to the con-
ference table.
Strike in Twenty States.
The strike will be carried on in
about twenty States, but the dis
tricts most affected will be Penn
sylvania, Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, and
Kentucky.
The biggest unknown factor in
the situation is the attitude to be
taken by the non-union miners. Of
whom there are 1S8.700, according
TO Department of Labor figures.
These are divided as follows: Penn
sylvania, $4,000; West Virginia,
$4,000; Kentucky. S5,400; Alabama,
1890; Colorado, 1900.
II the non-union miners continue
at work there will be constant
dribble of coal into the industrial
world to augment the immense re-
serve stocks. The non-union fields
could feed about 100000 tons
weekly into channels Of trade.
Only in Congress today was there
manifest any considerable uneasi-