Evening star., 1922-03-29
The impending Coal Strike.

| That responsibility for forcing
| speedy ending of the proposed coal
strike must be assumed by all de-
partments of the government is one
lthing upon which all of the nations
| newspapers seem to agree. Just how
| existing authority. If it is sufficient,
| is to be utilized. however. is some
thing upon which the papers are far
| from being in agreement. There
seems to be strong Endorsement for
| the administration proposal that the
| operators be compelled to negotiate
| with the miners. Alleged arrogance
on the part of the former generally is
| condemned and criticized. The news
papers take a very hopeful view of
| the outlook, The time of the strike.
| they hold. makes it unlikely that there
will be any real suffering by the pub
lie at large. The stocks on hand are
| sufficient to hold all large concerns.
| public utilities and the like, for at
least three months. BY that time pub
| lie opinion, in the belief of the edi-
| torial writer's, will have compelled
settlement.
| the New York World (democratic).
erred in mot making it plain to tire
operators that If they continue to re-
| fuse to confer with the miners they
| will make themselves responsible for
| the strike. The miners are willing to
talk termS The operators are not. 1t
| becomes. then, a strike of the opera
tors against the miners" However,
the New York Globe Independently
! feels certain that it is the duty of
| under any circumstances. The pres
ent dispute Is not private affair."" 1t
declares. and points out that after
a strike takes place commission
must be named to mediate for peace.
It concludes by insisting that the
operators and the miners right now
| "can surely work out as Just a con-
tract as could the commission which
President Harding would appoint.
They will serve their own interest as
| well as the public by so doing"
The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot Unde-
pendent democratic) also insists that
an immediate conference between the
parties would bring about settle
| ment. only by doing SO Injecting
f! the miners) can the operators absolve
blame for what is to come" it says.
The Scranton Times (democratic), in
| the center of the anthracite region,
and therefore presumably well post
| cd, reflects feeling of optimism to-
ward the contemplated strike. It
faith to both sides. saying I'VE feel
confident that neither miners nor
operators this year will act hastily
or jeopardize their own or the coun-
try'ss interest"
The manner in which the bitumin-
Gus strike was settled by former
President Wilson and Attorney Gem
eral Palmer IL criticized sharply by
the Chicago Tribune Independent re-
publican), and it strongly opposes q
sides will fight only for their own
| interests" It believes that the oper-
ators want a strike because they
now are in ian excellent position to
| win it. THE causes" it says, ARE
many and varied. including ..ts.u,
methods Of mining. resale, specula--
tion. transportation difficulties and
innumerable others. The only way
permanent peace and justice can be
brought into the coal INDUSTRY. ana
permanent calm and stability to de-
pendent industries and consumers, is
to reach q solution OF such problems;
Anything less will be a makeshift."
A strike will increase agitation for
federal supervision Of coal mining, in
the opinion Of the Albany y; Do, Z,
sentiment viii become 50 strong that
Congress will not dare ignore It, the
paper adds. The Grand Rapids
Herald (republican) entertains SIM
| liar opinions. ut is due either to
congressional cowardice or cohgres-
sional Incidence" 1t declares. that
no medium now Is available to pre-
vent a coal strike" The Dayton,
(Ohio) Daily News (democratic) also
wants a permanent settlement. Coal
Controversies have come to be ex-
pected in America" it says. The
pity is that they cannot be settled
, once and for all, and disputes avoid
| ed which hamper public service and
| threaten to interfere seriously with
| the affairs of our people"
Because the public knows that 1t is
| entitled to coal It will uphold the
| government in any measures taken
| to prevent or speedily end the strike,
| the Pittsburgh Press independently
| says. It expects management in tne
coal industry to show due regard
for tho public WelfAxA" tho paper