Evening journal., 1922-08-19

"GentlemNn o. tslc SDhcAtSS.
1T IS manifestly my duty to
bring to your attention tho indus
trial situation which confronts the
country.
"Tho situation growing out OF
the prevailing railway and coal
mining strikes is so serious. so
menacing 10 the nations welfare,
that I should be remiss If 1 failed
frankly 10 lay the matter before
you and at the same time acquaint
you and the whole people with
such efforts as the executive
branch of the Government has
made by the voluntary exercise of
its good Offices 10 effect a settle
ment.
"The suspension Of the coal in
dustry dates back TO last April l,
when the working agreement be-
: tween mine operators and the
United Mine Workers came TO an
end. Anticipating that expiration
OF contract, which was negotiated
with the Governments sanction in
1920. the present Administration
sought as early as last October
conferences between the operators
and miners in order 10 facilitate
either a new or extended agree
ment in order to avoid any suspen-
sion of production when April l
arrived. At that time the mine
v workers declined 10 confer, though
the operators were agreeable the
mine workers excus!ng their de-
clination on the ground that the
union officials could have no au-
thority TO negotiate until after
their annual convention.
Conference Declined
"a short time prior 10 the ex-
piration of the working agreement
the mine workers invited confer
ence with the operators in the
central competitive field, covering
the state of Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Indiana and Illinois. and in spite OF
the union declination Of the GOV
ernment's informal suggestion for
the conference. Ave months before
the Government, informally. but
s,ncereiv. commended the con-
farence hut II was declined by |
certain groups of operators ana |
the coal mining controversy ended
I'm the strike Of April /. Il was
tps+antlv made nationwide, so far
as the organized mine workers
could control. Snd included many
districts in the bituminous held'
where there was neither grievance
nor dispu;e. and effected COM
niete .tie-uo of the production OF
the anthracite field.
"It is 70 be noted that when the
suspension began large Stocks OF
coai were on hand mined at wages
higher than those paid during the
war; there was only the buying I'M
pelled by necessity. and there was
a belief that coal must yield 10 tne
nost-war readjustment. When the
stocks on hand began 20 reach
such diminution as 20 menace IN
dustrv and hinder transportation
snnroximately June /. overtures
were initiated by the Government
IN the hope Of expediting settle
ment. r,at
,.,AusI and district tenders of set
Element on the part of OPERATOR
in some instances appeals lot SCI
+,enoent-were wholly unavailing.
Tbe dominant groups among the
onerators we're insistent on haVihs
Sis.r,c, agreements. the dominant
's,t,ers were demanding a nauon-
-,,,do settlement. The Government
-, 1vithout authority 10 enforce
a strike settlement in the coal IN
dus,rv. could only volunteer lts
Sood oelces in finding a way OF
adjustment
No Hone of Agreement
"Accordingly, a conferspce OF
,be coal operators associauons
snd the general and district ON
cssls of the United Mine workers
,,as called TO meet in Washington
a. Iulv The designation Oh
renresentatlon was left TO the OF
a.ta,s ~ the various organizations
and there was nationwide repre-
sentation, except from the non
unIon fields of the country
sore the ioint meeting expressed
.ba deem concern OF the country
and invited them to meet at
conference table and end the ols
nutes between them. The CONFER
enoe did not develop even a nope
Tbe operators were asking for
their district or territorial CONFER
ence-the workers demanded ha-
tional settlement on old bases.
"Appraising correctly the nope
lessness of the situation, l again
invited both operators and work
ers 10 meet with me, and tendered
a means Of settlement TO see now
any. one believing in industrial
peace and justice 10 all concerned
could decline II. In substance u
called on the operators to open
their mines. on the mine workers
10 resume work at the same pay
ana under the same working con-
ditions as prevailed at the time
the strike began. In turn, the
Government was to create at once
a coal commission, or two Of them,
II preferred by all parties TO the
disputes. so that one could deal
with the bituminous situation. the
other with the problems in the an
thracite fields.
Among the commissioners were
TO be representatives Of the mine
workers. and outstanding. disin-
terested. and able representatives
of the American people. The COM
mission was TO be instructed to
direct its first inquiry TO the rate
of wage TO be paid for the period
ending next April /. and then 20
enter upon a fact-hnding inquiry
into every phase Of the industry
and point the way TO avoid future
in production.
Rejected Arbitration.