The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-01
Rail First:
Then Coal
Settlement
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(copyr11hs BY The Intsu1Ssncsr)

Washington. July s1.-Ths rail strike
Ssttlement first and then the coal prob
len-thAts President Harding's course
this week. And he has feeling that
when the fairness OF tho rail- strike
settlement Is disclosed as the details
are revealed, the striking miners and
operators viii find themselves COM
?sllsd by teSsrtul public opinion to
mako concessions TO each others View
point and bring peacA
Neither the railroad executives nor
tho railway employees will DO able 70
saw that the settlement Is what they
would have made Il II left 10 them-
selves IN q prolonged fight. But tho
Intervention OF the President has been
IN tha theory that tho American peo-
pie will not permit the disputants TO
have fight TO . finish
And the same Is true OF tho coal
controversy. Operators are adamnanf
n THAR viewpoint, miners representa-
tIves are stubborply refusing 20 con-
rede an inch but they will both have
% change tactics before the end or
this week when they are brought facs
20 face with the chief executive In
Wlltn HOCSc anu dlE aNNCN - NAAo A40NA'o
q the American people to accept a
conprom!se.
Won't be Voluntary.
Neither miners nor operators Will
Voluntarily make concessions. They
will not even give IN by processes Of
persuasion IN conference with tho
peaceful elements in their own ranks
md both labor and operators respeo-
nrRp1 from within
mako a settlement but when tho Presl-
lent Of tho United States takes the
initiative again he IS expected this
rime 70 get compliance from both op-
orators and miners There were many
unfortunate phases 10 tho last effort
o. peace which euanated from the
Whits House. For one thing the op-
orators wanted more time 10 fight
they believed that II the government
would furnish troops 70 protect strike
breakers the non-union production
would soon reach point where 1t
would scare tho union men into sub
mission. As for tho union leaders they
we're confident that later on they would
ret better terms OF settlement
Tho war OF exhaustion has gone on
Two weeks since Mr.. Harding proposed
arbitration. Figures Just issued by tha
r.,itad States Geological Survey show
,ha. uon-unlou production since tho op'
,rators we're invited 10 resume opera
lions has not been sufficient 10 war
rant the nation Is feeling comfortable
about fuel supply next winter. TIC
figures are by no means satisfactory 10
he administration here no matter how
Indicative they might DO to the opera
,ors OF a gradual Increase In pr"duc.
ton The operators olame tho ran
strike and say lack OF cars Is hinder
lnR production for coal isn't mined
when cars arc not available on wnicn
70 load But government Information
-ontradIct. that assertion Enough
coal hasn't been mined and not enough
nan are az work 10 Insure an adequate
supply.
wnl Try Again
In trs face Of those facts rho gov
rrnmeut will try again 70 mediate In
IN. dispute. Further conferences oe-
tween tho heads OF operators and uni
cns arc Inevitable the end OF this week
There Is n feeling OF tho utmost con-
rtdence that this time new compro'
rnIse can be launched and that II will b
accepted II would have required very
llttle modification on funda mentals tc
hayA brought n ~"ttlSment the last
limo the coal dsputants ware here
That modification uIu noN Coho as 'i''
rrasaurs Of public opinion through thi
president was not sufficiently acute.
Industrlal peace may be said TO be II
yt~bt now. The situation IN tho Goa
Industry Is such that a settlement can
no, be rejected by either side. Presi
dsnt Harding has made tho railroad
executives see the importance OF thu
a nrh1io welfare over abstract issues II
nionisrn and the same may be pre-
Acted for the coal operators and min
RNspokesmen