Evening star., 1922-08-25
URGES PRESIDENT
TAKE OVER MINES
Senator Walsh Introduces
Resolution Providing ST.
100000 for U. S. Operation.
LABOR UNIONS ATTACKED
Iowa Member Declares Civilization
Is Menaced by Frequency
of Strikes.
LABOR UNIONS ATTACKED

The industrial situation due to the
coal and rail strikes was discussed
In the Senate late yesterday, and the
climax was reached when Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts. democrat,
introduced a resolution giving the
President power to take over the coal
mines and providing Sl,00O,oo0 to
start operation. The resolution was
referred to the Senate interstate COM
merce committee.
Senator Calder of New York started
the ball rolling with an address de-
manding that something be done I'M
mediately to relieve the situation,
which he said threatened to result In
the freezing of people in New York
Senator Walsh followed with criti-
eism of the administration and OF
Congress for doing nothing" to pro-
tect the public in this crisis.
Senator Cummins, of Iowa. chairman
of the interstate commerce commit
tee. came to the defense of the PresI-
dent, asserting that he had done every
thing possible to bring about an ad-
justment of the differences between
the employers and the workers and
credlting the President with a settle
ment of the bituminous coal strike.
A "Desperate SituntiOn.'
Senator Calder. republican. New
York. declared that New York city
faced a desperate situation" He
urged that operators and miners be
adjust their differences, and that if
they failed lit will be the duty of
this Congress to give to the Presi-
dent full and complete authority to
take over the mines and to operate
them for the benefit of the American
people"
Senator Lenroot. republican, Wis
consin, declared that the situation
with respect to both the coal and rail
controversies was so bad that the
peoples interest now justified more
than mediation.'
lied to take over both the railroads
and the mines. and. in his discretion
to operate Them said he
Complaining about what he charac-
terized as the inaction of both the
President and Congress. Senator
Walsh, democrat, Massachusetts, de-
clared that much of the unrest in
the country was due ito the fact that
here we dilly daily; here we object;
here We tilibuster; here We never
take action"
Demanding immediate action to re-
lleVe what he said threatened to be a
desperate situation this coming winter,
Senator Walsh warned that there was a
growing belief among the people that
IN an emergency like this they will be
allowed TO starve and die without re-
lief from their government"
Vigorously defending the President
Senator Cummins declared that the ex-
ecutive had done everything in his
power to bring about settlements and
to relieve the people. He said he had
never known man who had labored
80 constantly and assiduously. day
and night, mind and heart" to compose
differences between warning Industrial
factions. He added that responsibility
for the failure to end the strikes rested
neither with the President nor Con-
parties to the conroversies.
Both Senate Cummins and Borah
asserted that the President had no
power to compel an agreement. Mr.
Borah held also that Congress had no
power under the Constitution to enact
legislation compelling a settlement and
similar view was expressed by Sena-
tor Shields, democrat, Tennessee.
Attacks Unionism.
Senator Nelson, republican. Mime
sofa. expressed the opinion that the
whole trouble" was "unionism.''
Gentlemen here seem to be afraid
to meet the real issue; but that IS
is no use of sidestepping this matter
You are all afraid to say anything
about the unions"
Replying. Senator Cummins de-
clared that 1t ought to be a crime for
employees to strike when the govern
ment undertook to adjudge for them
the justice of dispute. He added
that in his opinion this was a final
remedy for such conditions as those
now existing.
II don't think, he declared. that our
civilization can long endure if a
body of artisans, embracing all in one
industry, can leave their employment
by concert and conspiracy at the
same time. 1 would be the last man
to take away the right to quit, to
leave work. except when the govern
ment attempts to give those en-
ployes justice they hope to achieve.
Senator Cummins declared that
Congress at it's next session would
take up industrial problems with a
view to determining what place
unionism should occupy in the civil
lization Of the United States"