New-York tribune., 1922-07-20
Harding Consolidates His
Agencies for Averting
Coal Famine, as Union
Hints of New Walk-Out
Borah and Walsh
Consult Compers
No Legislative Cure for
Problem Found; Lodge
Urges Law Be Upheld

aSoul diiSSo VI ouPpoit 1ioHi tuS BoN-
ernors of nearly all the coal-produc-
ing states were pouring into the
White House to-day in response to
President Harding's appeal for the
use of troops to protect the mines
and insure an adequate supply of
fuel, the Administrators policy for
expediting production was being
framed. Officials of the government
and of the United Mine Workers are
keeping in close touch With the steps
taken by the operators toward re-
opening the mines that have been
shut down by the strike.
The only development Of the day
which caused the Administration con-
Germ was the broad intimation from
union headquarters that the 10000
pump men in the mines, left there to
protect the properties when the strike
was called, would go out in protest
against the use of Federal troops. 1t
was said authoritatively that the gov
ernment would expect the operators to
keep the pumps running and thus pre-
vent heavy damage from flooding, and
that the troops would be used to pro-
tect these maintenance mon.
1t was reported from Pennsylvania
that the larger anthracite operators
will not make any attempt to open the
mines, although there may be reopen
ing of small mines. Operators in Frank
| lin County, Illinois, the largest produc-
ing center in that state, have notified
the authorities that there was absolute
/ lysno chance of resuming coal produc-
| ton under the Harding plan. Ohio
operators also will make no effort to
reopen the pits, except possibly in the
Hooking district.
One Governor Dissents
| Only a few governors had not been
heard from tonight, and their replies
are expected within few hours.
Pledges of full cooperation with Pres
ident Hardings effort to prevent fuel
famine next winter came from ali ex-
cept two of the state chiefs. Governor
Morrison, of North Carolina, which,
incidentally, has no mining industry,
declined to comply with the request on
| the ground that govern nent adjust
| ment of labor disputes IS "uw,se." Gov
ernor Richie of Mary laad replied that
! he favored mediation rather than bayo-
nets.
Support of President Harding's move
also day from the Senate, when
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts,, Re-
publican leader of the Senate, in a
| statement called upon every patriotic
citizen to sustain the chief executive
| without reservation or purpose of
evasion"
| Senator's Meet Labor Chiefs
! Senator Borah, chairman of the Edu-
cation and Labor Committee, and Sem
| ators Walsh, of Massachusetts, and
King, of Utah, had conference at the
| Senate Office Building over the general
strike situation with President Com
Edgar l.. Wallace, Legislative agent of
the American Federation of Labor.
The meeting was held at the instance
of Senator King to consider whether
any legislation or other action could
be suggested which would be helpful
at this time. 1t resulted in nothing
except a general exchange of views.
1t was the feeling that nothing could
, be done in legislative way so far as
the immediate crisis was concerned.
| Mr.. Gompers was of the opinion that
| the present difficulty would have to be
| allowed to work itself out largely by
| direct negotiations between employers
| and employed.
Senator Wadswort\ chairman of the
| Senate Military Conn ittee, conferred
with President HardilN and also with
Secretary of War WeelN, This led to
reports that he was discussing add;-
tional military legislation because Of
the strikes. He said, however, that he
| had not taken up the strike situation,
and that the War Department had
ample money and no more legislation
was needed unless something unex-
| pected should develop.
No Cali Sent Pump Men
john L. Lewis, .p-safdent of the
United Mine Workers, declared that no
call would be sent out to the mainten-
ance crews who have been taking care
of the mines affected by the strike. By
agreement with the operators these
workers were left at the old wage scale.
This course is traditional. The union
head predicted, however, that these
men would leave their pumps as soon
as either non-union men or troops ap-
peared at the mines. The abandon
| rent of the pumps, it was declared,
would seriously damage many mines.
I Secretary of War Weeks commented
on the report by saying: "We are not
going to torce men TO go to work, but
we are going to- see that those who do
work are protected
Responsibility for providing against
flooding rests entirely with the mine
! operators, the United States is con-
| cerned only with the actual production
Of coai and furnishing protection for
those who produce it. added Mr.. Weeks.
Asked about report from Denver
that the Governor OF Colorado had
threatened withdrawal of state troops
from the mines if the operators ac-
cepting state protection boast the price
| Of the fuel, Mr.. Weeks said:
4 "The Governor OF colorado very
/ properly said that the state troops
were protecting the woykmen with the
! object of enabling the mines to pro-
duce coal that the people generally
! needed. His troops were not sent
there 10 protect the mines so the OPP
! orators could advance the prica Of
1 coal
Il think the Governor Of Colorado
has acted with great Judgment from
the very beginning, and his action has