The New York herald., 1922-07-16
Government Ready to Act
at Once, but Withholds
Its Program.
DECISION DUE MONDAY
Harding Expected Then to
Move Definitely in Both In
dustrial Tieups.
,,ecso, psspo,eh to THE NEW York HrnAIp.

specsa, Dtspatch to THE New York HEnAi.p
New York Herald Bnrrau.
Washington. ID. C.. July Is.
Striking mine workers in both the
anthracite and bituminous fields to-
day definitely and positively declined
to accept the proposal Of President
Harding for cessation Of the strike
and adjudication of the disputed points
byya Government commission.
President Harding made no response
except to say he hoped they fully APP
praised the responsibility they as
sumed in declining the Governments
offer Of means Of instant adjustment
and the resumption of mining.
. Official exchanges ended there but
later John l.. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers of America
said: "Of course we have fully ap-
praised our responsibility"
In this situation the Government, by
the hand Of the President,is prepared
to start mining operations on scale
to protect the public individually and
the country generally from famine and
coal suffering.
The policy committee OF the United
Mine Workers will meet again Monday
1t was stated by Mr.. Lewis that the
| meeting was called before the n1ins
| workers delegation went TO the White
House and they hal ended consideration
OF the Presidents proposal 1t is pos
I sible. however. That some reconsideration
might be reached Monday after the for
nal reply OF the bituminous operators II
received,
Despite this hope .here is an oficialiy
declared impasse between the Govern
! ment and the coal miners.
Decisive Action Due.
II. can authoritativeiy be stated that
the Government will take decisive action
In the coal strike and possibly in the
railroad strike on Monday unless ther
IS some change in the situation over sp
day. 4,
The railroad strike situation was
dwarfed to-day by the exchange be-
tween miners and the President on the
sight OF by the President or his Cabinet.
Oiiftldi StdtcItnl Oh tUc 1OFcI1fnent
course will not be made until the time
for action arises. 1t is known, however.
that Monday is the deadline in both in
stances.
Complication Of the railroad situation
Is expected through the proposed strike
of maintenance OF way employees. Re
ports of violence in this strike were sorfie-
what subdued to-day. although three de-
partments received requests for Federal
protection from disorders.
Decision OF the policy committee of tho
United Mine Workers OF America to
fatty and unanimously reject the Presi-
dents settlement proposal was taken to
tile White House after a morning and
short afternoon session. lasting in all
about three hours. That determination
submitted was reached largely in ad-
vance was indicated by authentic In
formation yesterday that the policy COM
mittee would decline.
Decisive action by the mine workers
appears 70 make irrelevant the position
taken by the bituminous operators on
the Presidents settlement proposal
Whether or not the operators accept ap-
pears to make little material difference.
as the miners must be party to any
settlement undertaken.
The White House made public late to-
day a., Interpretation OF the Presidents
proposal 10 tne MINERS ana tne Oper-
ators. II was oficially stated when the
Interpretation was given out that IL con-
tained only matter that previously had
been given to the miners and to the
operators II was stated that the mine
workers long had been familiar with i;s
contents.
No onicinI Assurance. s
In reply Mr.. Lewis stated for the mine
workers that they had not obtained this
Interpretation from any Official quarter
The Interpretation said that In the res
toration. OF 1922 conditions the checkon
was TO continue. Mr.. Lewis said the
policy committee Of the mine workers
had no knowledge that II would
Mr. Lewis added that the niins
workers had no oficial assurance that
the Presidents proposal would be ac-
cepted by the mine operators IN whols
OF in part He said the President ex-
pressed the expectation that they would
I'VE have" he said. been compelled 10
deal with expectations before so far
as we know the Government has dealt
with no one and has no promise or ex-
recitation from any one except Mr.
Ocle CA NJ. Ogle. head OF the Coal
Operators AssociationD. We (the United
Mine workers) have no Official assur-
ance that Mr.. Ogle has seen or that any
agreement reached Will be binding upon
the Frick Coal and Iron Company, the
Consolidated Coal Company and other
such corporations. How can we fnoveg'
The companies cited by Mr.. Lewis are
non-union or open shops. which have
closed mines because OF the strike.
Government activity in the critical
action indicated Monday will be coordi-
nr.ed between the Executive and Legis-
lative branches. The President and the