Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-29
COVE RNMENT IS
WITHOUT POWER
IN COAL STRIKE
Nothing Can Be Done Ex-
cept Enable Men Willing
to- Work in Safety, PreSi-
dent States.
(By The Associated Press.l

Lansing, Mich, July 28.--A let"
ter from President Harding to
Governor GroesbeCk received to-
day declared in effect that the fed
eral government is powerless to
interfere with the attitude of the
United Mine Workers of America
towards Independent coal agree
ments; that at present nothing can
be done except enable men willing
to work to work in safety and that
the big issue in .he coal strike dis
pute is national dictation "unhes-
itatingly assumed by the mine
workers" which must be taken
care of by legislation.
The presidents letter, which was
In reply to a telegram sent by the
governor last week, when he in
formed the national executive he
was asking John l.. Lewis, presi-
dent of the mine workers, to grant
Michigan miners permission to en-
ter agreements independently Of
their national affiliation and re-
turn to work, said:
Il don't know whether you have
the persuasive power to effect a
voluntary agreement in Michigan
I" but l think it fair to assume
you could not enforce such an ar
rangement. For the present, in
the absence of law to guarantee
service in the public welfare, we
can only take steps necessary to
enable men willing to work to do
so in perfect safety. l do not
think this means an armed guard
at the mouth of every mine. 1t
does need the assurance that state
authority and federal authorities,
when needed, means to protect
every man in the pursuit of lawful
employment"
at is a matter of record" the
president wrote, that coal opera
tors and mine workers in many
districts have been quite ready to
come to an understanding in very
short order, but the policy of ma
tional organization is hostile to
any district or state arrangements.
This apparently is one OF the is
sues involved and Is one which
be definitely settled. I do not
know of any way of settling il un-
der the legal authorities which are
now possessed by either state or
federal government.
"Manifestly, legislation must be
provided and mean to submit the
whole problem to congress at the
earliest consistent time after the
house reassembles.
"If the coal producers of the
United States were so organized
that national body were to de-
termine tho policy of every mem
| ber and permit no sales OF coal ex-
cept on dictation of terms by the
national officials. every legislature
and congress itself would instant
ly put an end to such a practice
The mine workers unhesitatingly
assumed national dictation. 1t is
the big issue involved in the pres
ent dispute. Frankly | think II
must be dealt with if we are to
have any security and any assur-
ance of supply of fuel"
The governors reply said ir
part:
There being no dispute over
wages or working conditions Il
seems pity that the public must
be made to suffer without any jus.
tification whatever.
You will pardon me for taking
the position that the national gov
ernment has the power and au-
thority to protect our citizens from,
the embarrassing situation that
faces US. I do not see how we car
concede that such power does not
exist, am writing frankly be.
cause the people are becoming i'm.
patient of further delay in the
adoption OF measures that Wi
spell an early end of the matter.