The Washington herald., 1922-07-18
MAY CALL HOUSE
President Warns Need
Of Public Is First and
Hints Troop Action.
COAL HEADS AGREE
TO REOPEN PLANTS
Sproul and Daugherty
Confer with Executive
On Situation.

orators yesterday to agree on Rc-
ceptance OF the Presidents strike
settlement, Mr.. Harding abandoned
his efforts to bring about imme-
diate peace in the coal Industry.
He invited the operators to reopen
their mines under protection Of the
Federal government
I invite you 10 return to your
mine properties and resume opera
tions." he said. With this sign A.
cant statement the President con-
cluded a conference with the coal
operators in which they informed
him Of their difficulties over agree
Ing specifically to his settlement
plan.
This sentence. IL was pointed ont
could have but one meaning--that
Mr.. Harding intends to furnish Fed
eral troops for the protection Of
the operators who are able 10 re-
open their mines with non-union
labor.
May Call Congress.
II this drastic step fails To nro-
duce the coal necessary 10 the ma
uonal welfare, il is understood thar
the Pres dent VIII not hesitats 20
proceed to the execution OF his
original threat to se.ze the mines
and operate them pending a settle
ment
With this crisis at hand rumors
! were prevalent about WashfnVtop
last night that the President wouyd
summon the House to cut short its
recess and return to the Capital 70
enact leg Station to meet the situa--
tion- Senator CummIns. Iowa. chair
man Of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee, announced that
ne would Introduce a bill creating
Labor tribunal for the coal in
dustry patterned along the lines OF
the Railway Labor Board. Score
tary OF War Weeks after a confer
ence with the President went to the
Capitol and had long talk with
Senator Wadsworth. New York
chairman Of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee.
Harding's Patience Exhausted
After an all-day session ~ rb,f-
hotel the operators vent To m
White House and delivered their
reply TO Mr.. Harding's PROPOSAL
They subscribed broadly 10 the pro-
posal to arbitrate. A ma 5ority n,
the districts represented accented
the Presidents proposal uncora .
tionally. while a minority. subsr~Ir-
ing TO the general principles OF ar.
oltratlon and collective bargainf'fr
nevertheless insisted upon impos M
special conditions. After listr-trr
carefully to their report. tho p-.-'.
dent made his reply. inviting then
to reopen their mines.
The Presidents reply. il was OK.
plalned. marked the exhaustion o,
his patience with both sides in HI,
efforts TO bring the strike To az
end He is determined to get Goa
Tor the country this winter at al
hazards. His statement thar Goa
rs a necessity to interstate com.
merce needed no emphasis. IL va,
pointed out, to indicate how thor.
oughly he has made up his mins T.
employ the powers OF the FeIera
government to get coal mined.
Will Try TO Open Mines.
Operators, after listening "a n,
Presidents reply. stated they wouls
reopen their mines and attempt I,
produce ccal il they can get tn.
workers and government protection
They VIII offer the reduced waR,
scale. which they put into effect OF
April ]. The attitude Of the oper
ators toward the Presidents seItle
ment proposal was set forth in tn
following letter:
My Dear Mr.. President:
i We have given most careful any
thorough consideration to the p-o
posal submitted by you on July 10
supplemented by your statement o.
July is, and we are not only in en-
tire accord with your plan TO estah
lish general tribunal to inauir,
: into all the facts in our tndustr,
: and make recommendation for tn,
: solution OF our fundamental prob
lens. but We urge that such a plar
! be put into effect by you
} We also wish to rem nd YOU tha'
! We have already proposed the broas
principle of arbitration in gu,
J previous conferences with the off
cials Of the administration and viii
the Representatives OF the miners
We still stand on that broad prin
ciple and are in entire accord WITH
you in that respect
I'VE did have in mind. however
discussing with you certain recon
mendations as to the machinery 4
make an arbitration plan enectiv,
ana 10 accomplish the results whicl
the country and you yourself desire
In view OF the contingencies that
confront us and the varying condi
tions in the different coal-produe
ing districts OF the country
our conference has decid.d I,
answer your proposal by dis
tricts, rather than as whole
and = we attach. hereto. state
ments Of the position taken by IN,
several districts represented in tn,
conference Of operators assemble,
, at your request here in Wash
4 inRton.
"All OF the operators Of your con
ference unite in supporting IN,
principle OF arbitration and collec
tive bargaining and your high mo
tives in calling us together
And, finally, they say to you an,
to the American people that eacl
and every one OF them stands read
in this crisis to put his properties
and his own services at your dis
posal and command at any instant