Evening star., 1922-08-18

The text of the Presidents address
to Congress on the railroad s'riAe
crisis follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress-:
1t Is manifestly my duty to bring
to your attention the industrial
situation which confronts the
country. The situation growing
out of the prevailing railway and
coal-mining strikes is so serious,
so menacing to the nations well
fare, that 1 should be remiss II
failed frankly to lay the matter
before you and at the same time
acquaint you and the whole people
with such efforts as the executive
branch of the government has
made by the voluntary exercise OF
its good offices to effect settle
ment.
The suspension of the coal In
dustry dates back to last April l,
when the working agreement be-
tween mine operators and the
United Mine Workers came to an
end. Anticipating that expiration
Of contract, which was negotiated
with the governments sanction in
1920, the present administration
sought, as early as last October,
conferences between the operators
and miners in order to facilitate
either new or extended agree
ment in order to avoid any suspen-
sion of production when April 1
arrived. At that time the mine
workers declined to confer. though
the operators were agreeable, the
mine workers excusing their decli-
nation on the ground that the
union officials could have no au-
thority to negotiate until after
their annual convention.
Peace Efforts Failed.
A short time prior to the expira-
tion Of the working agreement the
mine workers invited a conference
with the operators In the central
competitive field, covering the
states of Pennsylvania Ohio. In
diana and Illinois, and in spite Of
the union decIination of the gov
ernment's informal suggestion for
the conference, five months before,
the government, Informally but
sincerely, commended the confer
ence, but 1T was declined by certain
groups of operators, and the coal
mining controversy ended in the
strike of April 1. 1t was instantly
made nationwide, so far as the
organised mine workers could con-
troll, and included many districts
in the bituminous field where there
was neither grievance nor dispute.
and effected a complete tie-up Of
the production in the anthracite
field
1t is to be noted that when the
suspension began large stocks of
coal were on hand, mined at wages
higher than those paid during the
war, there was only the buying
impelled by necessity. and there
was a belief that coal must yield
to the postwar readjustment. When
the stocks on hand began to reach
such diminution as to menace in
dustry and hinder transportation,
approximately June l, overtures
were initiated by the government
in the hope of expediting settle
ment. None Of these availed. In
dividual and district tenders of
settlement on the part Of opera
-tors-in some instances appeals
for settlement-were wholly una
vailing. The dominant groups
among the operators were insist
ent on having district agreements;
the dominant mine workers were
demanding a nationwide settle
ment. The government being with
out authority to enforce a strike
settlement In the coal industry,
could only volunteer its good
offices in finding a way of adjust
ment.
Conference Called Here.
Accordingly, conference of the
coal operators associations and
the general and district officials of
the United Mine Workers was
called to meet in Washington on
July 1. The designation of repre-
sentation was left to the officials
of the various organizations. and
there was nation-w wide representa-
ton, except from the non-union
fields Of the country. Before the
Joint meeting I expressed the deep
-.o,n - tho country and {nyited
them to meet at a conference table
and end the disputes between
them. The conference did not de-
yeiop even a hope. The operators
were asking for their district or
territorial conferences; the work.
on.old bases. Appraising correct
" the Ahopelessness of the situa-
ton, again invited both operat-
ors and workers to meet with me,
and rendered means of settle
ment so justly inspired that 1t was
dificult to see how any one be-
lieving in Industrial peace and JUS
tice to all concerned could decline
it. In substance, 1t called on the
operators to open their mines, on
the mine workers to resume work
at the same pay and under the
same working conditions as pre-
vailed at the time the strike be-
gan. In turn, the government was
to create at once a coal commits
sion. or two of them, II preferred
by all parties to the dispute. So
that one could deal with the btu
minous situation, the other with
the problems In the anthracite
field.
Among the commissioners were
to be representatives Of the op-
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