The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-07-19
WILL. PROTECT
SOFT COAL MINES
Harding HequestS Operators to
Resume operations.
SOLU|ERS TO Be USED
U. 6. Troops Viii Be Available if State
Militia Cannot Cope With the Stu
alton.

Washington, July 19.-President
Harding sent simultaneously tele-
grams directing The operators OF all
soft coal mines shut down because or
strike conditions 10 resume operation
al once and requesting the governors
Of those states III which the mines OPP
crate u furnish such military protec-
lion as may be needed.
II stale troops find it impossible 10
cope with the situation. federal troops,
il was understood, may eventually be
employed.
PlanS.fur such action by the preSi-
dem were understood 10 have received
the unanimou~ support of the cabinet
at the meeting. at which the industrial
SITUATION was discussed III all its raml-
ticationS.
The adviceS To the mime operators
and the governors "lll point out the
imperative necessity Snr early rpSnmp-
ton of the mining industry III the IN
terpst of the public and will also brief
ly urge that orderly procedure be 5b-
served in the execution of the plan.
President Harding was represented
aS feeling the refusal of the hitumln-
ouS miners and minority al tht op-
orators 10 accept arbitration lett me
administration no alternative hut t.
tell the operators to go home and start
Droduring coal as he did in receiving
the operators response.
The forecast of the president pro
posed ac1ion was supported later by
Secretary of Var Weeks. who indicat-
ed governors of the coal producing
states would be asked 70 exert then
full Iowers 10 protect the operation
of coal mines. Where states were un,
able or unwilling 10 provide protection
federal forces would be employed, he
said.
Ii was made plain at the war de
partnnent the national guard would ht
employed by the federal government
to maintain order if the available reg
uiarS were Of insufficient humble on
if the governors refused 10 call out I'll.
guard themselves and violence result
ed. National guard troops could he
used. ii WAS added. in other Than theIl
own states and in effect the govern
m"nt has AT its disposal not only The
| regular army. but the full strength OF
the national guard.
Some of the hituminous operators
wee said to have Informed the preSi
dent had ii not been for interference
by the federal government they woult
now he working their mines. There
| fore President Harding was under
stood TO be willing they should have
| the opportunity 10 demonstrate tht
ability TO continue bituminouS Goa
production.
At present there is no prospect OF {
call by the president reconvening The
house or congress before the expira
ton of its recess, August 10, 1t wa:
stated at the White House. Such &C
ton will not be taken. it was said, un
| less some situation arises requiring
it,"
Prediction was made by Samue
| GomperS. president of The American
| Federation of Labor, that Presiden
| Harding's invitation ID the bituminou
| operators to return to their propertie
| and resume operation would result il
no appreciate increase in the produc
| Iion of coal.
| Declaring that coal could be had il
| ample quantities the moment justice
is dome" Mr.. Gompers, in a forma
statement said the great need of tn
| hour was for normal, natural confer
ence between the interested parties.
| and that when half million men ar
| aggrieved is poor time indeed 70
! the roll of drums, the rafting OF sa
| bres and the pounding of the MALE,
! fist
| The country is drifting toward
| state of irresponsibility in dealing wit
| both the coal and railroad strikes,
| he said ''Utterances from employer
| and from government officials are stuff
| GENTLY alike III thought and context t
| indicate The close bond of sympathy
| between the -wo forces. The situation
| is one we'll calculated TO cause III
| gravest concern in every quarter.
The army MAY 20 TO the mimi
| districts. but the army is not cOmp0s
ed of coal miners The fact is tina
there is nobody to mine coal until tn
! coal miners now on strike return t
| the mines.