The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-06-30
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

bE IA III LAW ItEINNtE
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.)
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, June 3O-NIine own
ers have signifed their intention of at
tending President Hardings conference
here Saturday in which the government
will use its good Offices to persuade on
orators and miners to settle the coal
strike
JOHN L. Lewis, head of the miners
union. had already accepted the invita-
ton so that the Willingness of the oner-
ators to come, too, ends all maneuvering
on that point. In past years acceptance
of an invitation to conference usually
was preceded by the laying down of con
dltlonS for the conference, but in this
case the call was issued by the President
of the United States and neither side
could afford to defy public opinion by
ignoring such a summons
The greatest confidence prevails that
the coal strike viii be settled and that a
precedent will be established which will
go a long way toward preventing strikes
on the coal business The interven-
ton of the chief executive, incidentally.
Is not merely as presiding officer or as
mediator, but as a representative of
the public interest. The government
has hesitated TO use a club or to indi-
cate the source of its legal power in
eventually taking a hand if an emer-
gency arose, but il now is cIear-and
both sides will understand when they get
N Conference.-The the supply of the
nation with fuel is considered a public
interest OF paramount Importance, in
fact so important that the broad consti-
tutlonal powers of national safety would
be invoked by the executive if the Amer
70 TO- TaIl-
Of government seizure of the mines is
but symptom of the gradually develop
ing feeling that a recurrence of strikes
means suffering to the employees, a read
justment of finances on the part of the
operators, a depletion of coal reserves
and Il gouging of the public as prices to
the consumer are inevitably raised.
No Danger from Courts
President Harding has another reason
OF course for presiding at the coal con-
ference. The mine operators, many Of
whom are under Indictment for making
wage agreements with mine unions in
the past. are fearing that the federal
courts might charge them with contempt
If they entered into another agreement
while the courts were trying cases grow
ing out of previous agreements. Assur-
ances from the attorney general that the
prosecution would not follow have not
been deemed sufficient. The President
himself is calling the conference so no
federal judge is likely to interfere, in
fact, there is every reason to believe
the courts would not have INTERVIEWED
even if Mr.. Harding had not called the
conference. Yet the action of the Pres
ident serves the double pupOSe of guar
anteeing immunity from prosecution for
agreements made in the conference be-
ginning here Saturday and brings into
play the government influence as a medi-
a "a nd aS tafi 1f ba d
lie which must be protected against the
effects of a diminished coal supply.
Undoubtedly Secretary Hoover viii be
asked by the President to act in his be
half after the opening meeting, but the
presidential authority will be present
just the same.
Railway Situation Different
As for the crisis in the railroad situa-
ton. the government here is not as hope
full Of results as in the coal dispute
There is no move in contemplation here.
The coal situation was tackled direct as
there Is no tribunal to which the con-
troversy eould have been brought. The
railroad disputants have the United
States railroad board. 4 decision has
been rendered by the board and the queS-
ton now is whether the railway shop
men will respect that decision or strike
in the face of it. If they strike they
may focus attention anew on the fact
that the railway labor board under the
transportation act has no power to en-
force its decisions except the moral power
Of public opinion and congress may be
persuaded to put teeth in the act.
AIR Harding while a member of the
United States senate, voted for an anti
strike provision to be inserted in the
transportation act now on the statute
books but the provision was eliminated
before the bill was adopted. 1t would
require little impetus from an acute rail
road situation to cause Mr.. Harding to
appeal for such a provision again,
though the effect on labor as Il whole at
moment when members of congress
are up for reelection might prevent ac-
ton at this time.
1t is not expected here that a general
walkout will develop on the railroad and
that these shopcraft unions which do
strike viii not seriously disturb trans
portation in this country. The question
Of whether the railway employees will
openly defy the decision of the railroad
labor board by a strike is really doubted
here for drastic action of some kind
would be inevitable from government
sources The opinion still prevails that
an eleventh hour postponement or truce
will be effected.