The New York herald., 1922-08-19
NEW YORK EDITORS -
ON HARDING SPEECH
III,
Comment of This Morning on
the Presidents Plan to
End Strikes. 80
HIS DEMAND FOR LAWS,
rs
The World Says Most ImpoY-
tant Constructive idea Was
Originally Borah's.
HIS DEMAND FOR LAWS,

Following are extracts from the edi-
torials in some of the New York news
papers of this morning commenting on
the address of President Harding to.
Congress:
The /'rimes--To what the President
asks of Congress In connection with the
coal industry there will be little obje,-
tion. There Is almost universal admis-
sion OF the need of an authoritative coal
commission to examine deeply into all
aspects Of the mining of bituminors
coal, and to maze such plans for re-
organizing 1t AMI establishing lawful
methods to settle disputes which mayc
arise. Mr.. Harding was known to ba '
committed to this plan; in fact, he an
nounced some weeks ago that the APP
pointment of such a. commission wdso
imminent. Now, however, he requestS
Congress to give him full authority 20
move In the matter. Favorable actio
on his request siould be forthcoming
promptly. 80
Congress may he more in doubt about,
the Presidents proposal to establish
temporarily a national coal agency to-
purchase, sell and distribute coal. The
aim. of course, is the fixing of fafr
prices and insuring equitable distribu7s
ton, so far as the Federal Government
terstate shipments. The President makes
II plain that he does not desire in any.
way to interfere with plans which may
be made by the several States to control
the sale and supply of coal within their
boundaries. 5.
Passing on to the railway strike. the
President recounts what was done or
attempted in vain by the Government;
but offers little in the way OF positive
-
tion act setting up the railroad labor,
board ought to be strengthened. Yet it
is plain that he does not expect Congress
to act in this sense. at least not soon
enough to have any effect upon the presre
ent troubles of the railways. In this
part of his message President Harding
evidently finds IL harder not to lean 10
one side more than the other. He frs
strong and Just words in condemnation
of the crimes which there is too much
reason TO lay to the responsibility OF
the striking railway men, and is par
ticuiarly severe upon the barbaric treat-.
ment Of passengers in the Arizona,
desert, which, as all know, stirred the,
country as did nothing else that hap
pened in connection with the strike. *'a
The World--The Presidents most iIG- :
portant constructive suggestion was borTs,
rowed without mention from Senator
Borah, who recently introduced a resolu.S
tion for the appointment of a commist'
sion to ascertain the facts in respect to,
coal production. Mr.. Harding asks for
legislation to enable him to name such
a commission. s.
Many months ago. however, the Fed
eral Trade Commission. established also
by act of Congress. undertook to ascera''
tain these facts and was restrained by
an injunction issued by the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia. Has
anything ever been done by Mr..
Hardings Department of Justice to va
cate that injunction? IL one Govern.
ment commission can be tied up by that
process another can be tied up, and IN
the end we shall get nowhere. LIZ
Mr.. Harding also asks for authority to
traffic In coal in order to prevent prof
iteering; yet II the Interstate Commerce
Commission would use its authority over
the allotment of cars to discipline mine
owners who charge excessive prices. ft
could-provide the quickest and most ex-
peditious OF all remedies: for without,
cars soft coal cannot be mined at all enn
For the rest the Presidents message ~
a rambling account of his own exploits
and his own reactions in the coal ana
railroad strike. He is astounded by the
ldtt inhb TIC bicdl bniOhS hhfV
power to tie up the transportation of the.
country. He is equally astounded by
the fact that outside the non-union fielGs
the United Mine Workers control the
production Of coal. Then to make sure
that hie emotions are properly BALANCED
he expresses his complete lack OF SYM
pathy with the employers who are trying
to crush the unions. which exercise ~
power which Mr.. Harding thinks they
30 ah xt,hf foh.
he hopes nothing will be done 49,
The Tribune--President Harding's coal.
rail mess -ge to Congress contains sev-
eral concrete suggestions. AS to coal
he asks for authority to appoint two
Government commissions One will
make fact finding" investigation,
such as the Cleveland agreement he
tween certain groups of operators and
the miners union also contemplates. II
win lay bare all the disheartening con.
ditions in the sick coal industry 1T
will go into every phase of production,
sale snd distribution. 1t will advise as
TO wages and conditions of labor apd
submit plans for a reorganization OF
mining on an economic basis.
The Governments inquiry will not be
hampered by the desire Of operators or
miners TO protect their special interests.
IL Will De lndepenneDt OF the Industry
and will concern itself mainly with pro-
tecting the public against artIfciaily,
hampered and overcostly production. as
well as against recurrent strikes and
fuel shortages. ..s
The President also requests Congress-
to make provision for temporary Fed
eral coal agency, with the necessary
capital TO purchase. sell and distribute
coal entering into Interstate transports-7
tion. This agency Is intended to re-
strain proftcering and TO insure a fair
allotment OF coal TO the various sec
tions OF the country while the present
shortage lasts
These two instrumcntalitcs arc needed
TO lquidate the present coal holdup and
TO give the coal industry a fresh start
The deeper evils which have developed,
including the brutal denial of the right
of non-union men 10 work in idle union
lied mines. 20 shocklngly Haunted m
the public's face at Herrin. Ill. are
left to be dealt with after Federal
probing of the industry is over. yeir,
II. S. JUDGE IN TRENTON I.