Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-07-19
SlNSHINY RAYS CUT THROUGH INDIGO CLOUDS
THAT HAVE ENSHROUDED OFFICIAL NATIONS
CAPITAL SINCE BEGINNING or The STRIKES
Prospects Of Rail Strike YeIdngTenative Peace FeeerS
Pass Between Miners And 0peratorS-Sittation still
Tense. But HopefuI'-Eleventh Hour Move.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
|. n. s. staff Corresnondent


shade OF indigo blue that has en-.
shrouded Washington for the past
few weeks IN its unsuccessful ef.
forts TO grapple with the two in
dusrrial menaces presented by the
coal and rail strikes was penetrat
ed today by a few sunshiny rays OF
optimism.
On top of hopeful messages from
Chicago that the rail strike is yield
ing steadily 70 settlement. il be-
came known here that tentative
peace feelers have passed between
thu warning camps of miners and
operators in Washington.
Cabinet officers in touch with all
sides Of the industrial turmoil de
scri5td the situation as still
tense hut hopeful"
The eleventh hour move toward
peace originated, it is understood
on tie part Of considerable num-
her of operators who are privately
pesSimistic over the prospects of
mining coal with volunteer workers
even under the protection of feder-
al ard state troops. These are OPP
orators who have always dealt
with the United Mine Workers,
whose districts are strongly union.
ICED. and who from the first have
held a conciliatory attitude toward
the union.
Messages have passed between
them and the union officials re-
maining in Washington and it is I'm
derstood that John l., Lewis, head
of TIE mino workers, sent back
word that so far as the union is
solely a question of tonnage, that
is. II sufficient tonnage is repre-
sented by those operators fayoring
peaceful settlement. then the min
ers are willing to talk business.
The operators who are directing
the peace feelers have begun care
full canvas to determine how much
tonnage they can secure in favor
OF holding a joint conference with
the miners to seek a new national
agreement.
The operators are badly split on
the proposition as they have been
in virtually all Of their conferences
in ashrgtcn-som being out
right in favor of negotiation of a
national agreements and others in
sistent on IN iron hand.
At this tine, when chances ap-
parenny better than ever before
for breaking the strong grip the
United Nina Workers have main
ia ned for years.
'SIokesmen for both sides declin.
ed 70 discuss the peace venture to-
day in any Getail. II WIS too ear
"" they said. They remarked, how
ever. that union officials and a
number of operators remained over
in Washington.
The administration is not party
to this new thrust at peace, accord
ing to cabinet officers.
While the government looks ap-
provingly on anything that will
tend 10 brins an end to the present
n'enacing situation, it was made
plain today that so far as the Pres
idert is concerned, the die has
been cast in the coal strike.
Production has been ordered re
sumed und-r a guarantee Of feder-
al troop protection, if needed, and
the burden Of responsibility has
beer shared. temporarily, at least.
with the governors of the 28 states
to whom President Harding ad-
dressed his appeal for help and
pledge Of aid.
Until the governors and the OPP
orators who do business in their re-
srective states demonstrate wheth-
e. they can nine coal in sufficient
Quantities 10 keen the nations
wheels moving. the government is
going to "sit tight" and he prepar-
81 for any EMERGENCIES. il was said
President Harding set no time
limit for tho experiment Of mining
on an omen shop basis under troop
protection but II was predicted in
white house circles today that the
chief executive will not long delay
the next stem in the government
policy if it IS demonstrated that the
volunteer mining scheme is not
producing the coal. The next step
is for the government itself to take
over the mines and operate them
as governments institutions.
The operators themselves, partic,
ularlv the considerable group that
is conciliat Dry to the miners de-
mands, do not want the government
to take Ove~ the mines. If the gov
eminent were in possession for
only a shor' time, it was said, it
would disrupt their business for
months to come And in addition
thereto, it would afford the gov