Evening star., 1922-07-18
Messages Go Out to
Operators and
Governors.
FEDERAL SOLDIERS
TO AID IF NEEDED
Drastic Action Gets the
Full Approval of
the Cabinet.

iSSldNiil icil hiiiSS iotN tONoN
will send simultaneously tele-
grams directing the operators
of all bituminous mines shut
down because of strike condi-
tions to resume operation at
once and requesting the gov
ernors of those states in which
the mines operate to furnish such
military protection as may be
needed. If state troops find it
impossible to cope with the Sit
uation federal troops, 1t was un-
derstood. may eventually be en-
ployed.
Plans for such action by the
President were understood to
have received the unanimous
support of the cabinet at today's S
meeting of that body, at which
the industrial situation was dis
Cussed in all its ramihcations.
The advices to the mine oper-
ators and the governors will
point out the imperative neces-
sity for early resumption of the
mining industry in the interest
of the public. and will also, brief
ly. urge that orderly procedure
be observed in the execution of
the plan.
Plan to Reopen Mines.
Preliminary plans for their attempt
10 reopen mines closed by the strike
despite failure of the governments
attempt to effect n settlement were
understood to occupy bituminous coal
operators who remained in Washing
ton for another meeting today, fol-
lowing their reply yesterday to Presi
dent Harding's arbitration proposal
with an offer to place their properties
and services at the governments dis
posal
Invited by the President to return
to your mine properties and resume
operations, on submitting their reply
TO his arbitration offer yesterday in
which majority accepted unqual-
ifedly the plan previously rejected
by the miners union. the operators.
through their chairman. Alfred NJ.
Ogle. later announced that an at
tempt to reopen the mines would be
made. Considerable production. the
employers generally believed. would
result in union fields in Pennsylvania
and Ohio if nowhere else.
May Call for Volunteers.
The governmnt, it was intimated
in official circles today. had fully
considered all the possibilities in
volved in it's decision to ask that the
mines be reopened. The protection
flag, it was indicated. would be fur
nished if necessary to insure protec-
tion where men were willing to work
and the government itself might call
for volunteer. miners of experience
now engaged in other pursuits.
Beyond intimating belief that the
lack of available skilled miners
would make difficult the effort to re-
open mines, officials of the miners
union who remained in Washington
today continued silent on the situa-
ton. Most of the members of the
United Mine Workers policy commit
tee. whose refusal to accept the Pres
idents arbitration offer was made
d
their meeting yesterday. had left the
city today. John l.. Lewis. president
of the union. said he would remain
over, however, for day or two.
Operators Fail to Agree.
Twenty-four hours of almost con-
tinuous sessions did not suffice to
make the bituminous employers
unit for acceptance of the arbitra-
tion proposals of the government.
even though anthracite operators last
week had given quick acceptance. On
a final vote a general letter, accept
ing the principle of arbitration and
making the tender of mines, was
agreed upon and presented to the
President. The letter follows:
I'VE have given most careful and
thorough consideration to the pro-
posal submitted by you on July 10.
supplemented by your statement of
July IS, and we are not only in entire
accord with your plan to establish
a general tribunal to inquire into all
the facts in our industry and make
recommen ndations for the solution of
our fundamental problem, but we
urge that such plan be put into
effect by you.
I'VE also wish to remind you that
we have already proposed the broad
principle of arbitration in our pre-
vious conferences with the officials
of the administration and with the
representatives of the miners. We
still stand on that broad principle
and are in entire accord with you in
that respect.
Answer by Districts.
I'VE did have in mind discussing
with you certain recommendations as
to the machinery to make an arbitra-
tion plan effective and to accomplish
the result which the country and you
yourself desire.
I'm view of the contingencies that
confront us and the varying condi-
tions in the different coal-producing
districts. of the country. our confer
ence has decided to answer your pro-
posal by districts rather than as q
whole, and we attach hereto state
ments of the positions taken by. the
several districts represented in the
conference of operators assembled at
your request in Washington
"All of the operators of your con.
ference unite in supporting the prin-
ciple of arbitration and collective bar,
gaining and your high motives in calf
ing US together.
"And. finally, they say to you and to
the American people that each and
everyone OF them stands ready In this
crisis to put his property and his own
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