The New York herald., 1922-08-19
before Congress to-day:
Gentiemen o. the,Conoress !:

before Congress to-day:
Gentlemen Of thesCongress
1t is manifestly my duty to bring
TO your attention the industrial situ-
alton which confronts the country.
The situation growing out of the
prevailing railway and coal mining
strikes is SO serious, so nlenacing to
the nations welfare. that | should be
remiss if l failed frankly to lay the
matter before you and at the same
time acquaint you and the whole peo-
pie with such efforts as the executive
branch OF the Government has made
by the voluntary exercise of it's good
offices to effect settlement.
The suspension of the coal Industry
dates back to last April 1. when the
working agreement between mine
operators and the United Mine
Workers came to an end. Anticipat-
ing that expiration of contract, which
was negotiated with the Govern
ments sanction in 1920, the present
Administration sought, as early as
last October. conferences between the
operators and miners in order to
facilitate either a new or extended
agreement in order to avoid any
suspension of production when April
l arrived
At that time mine workers declined
to confer, though the operators were
agreeable, the mine workers excusing
their declination on the ground that
the union officials could have no au-
thority to negotiate until after their
annual convention.
Invited Mine Conference.
ell.
of the working agreement the mine
workers invited a conference with the
operators in the central competitive
field. covering the States of Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. In
spite of the union declination of the
Governments informal suggestion for
the conference five months before, the
Government. informally but sincerely,
commended the conference but 1t was
declined by certain groups Of opera
tors, and the coal mining controversy
ended In the strike of April l.
1t was instantly made nationwide,
so far as the organized mine workers
could control. and Included many dis
tricts In the bituminous field where
there was neither grievance nor dis
pute and effected complete tieup
OF the production In the anthracite
field.
1t Is TO be noted that when the sus-
pension began large stocks of coal
were on hand. mined at wages higher
than those paid during the war. There
was only the buying irnpelied by ne
cessity, and there was belief that
coal must yield to the postwar read
justment. When the stocks on hand
began to reach such diminution as to
menace industry and hinder trans
portation, approximately June ], over
lures were initiated by the Govern
ment In the hope of expediting set
tlement.
None OF these availed. Individual
and distinct tenders OF settlement on
the part of operators-in some In
stances appeals for settlement-were
wholly unavailing. The dominant
groups among the operators were In
sistent on having district agree
ment: the dominant mine workers
were demanding nationwide settle
ment The Government, being with
out authority TO enforce strike set
tlement in the coal industry. could
only volunteer it's good offices In find
ing a way of adjustment
Accordingly, a conference OF the
coal operators associations and the
general and district officials Of the
United Mine Workers was called to
meet in Washington on July i. The
designation of representation was left
to the officials of the various organi-
zations and there was nationwide rep
resentation, except from the non-union
fields of the country.
Told OF Country's Concern.
Before the joint meeting I expressed
the deep concern of the country and
invited them to meet at conference
table and end the disputes between
them The conference did not develop
even hope.
The operators were asking for their
district or territorial conferences: the
workers demanded a national settle
ment on the old bases. Appraising
correctly the hopelessness of the stu
alton, ] again invited both operators
and workers to meet with me and ten
dered a means of settlement so justly
inspired that II was difficult to see
how any one believing in Industrial
peace and justice to all concerned
could decline IL.
In substance II called on the oper-
ators to open their mines; on the
workers to resume work at the same
pay and under the same working con-
OltlOnS as pFeNdHcu dl NHe liihS ~AS
strike began.
In turn. the Government was to
create at once coal commission, or
two OF them. II preferred by all par
ties TO the dispute, so that one could
deal with the bituminous situation.
the other with the problems In the
anthracite field.
Among the commissioners were to
be representatives Of the operators.
representatives of the mine workers
and outstanding. disinterested and
able representatives OF the American
public. The commission was TO be in
structed to direct its first inquiry TO
the rate OF wage TO be paid for the
period ending next April 1. and then
10 enter upon n fact finding inquiry
into every phase OF the industry and
point the way TO avoid future sus-
pensions In production. The dlspu
tants all indorsed the suggestion OF
fact finding commission.
The anthracite operators promptly
accepted tho entire proposal The mine
workers refused 20 resume work uader
the arbitration plan. The majority Of
the bituminous operators filed an ac-
ceptance but a considerable minority
declined the proposal.
Under these circumstances. having
no authority to demand compliance.
the Government had no other course
than TO invite a resumption OF pro-
duction under the rights OF all parties
TO the controversy. with assurance OF
Government protection Of each and
every one In his lawful pursuits.
Governors Were informed.