Evening star., 1922-07-01
PUBLIC COMES FIRST,
PRESIDENTS WARNING
TO COAL CONFEREES
TEXT OF SPEECH
BY PRESIDENT
AT COAL P4RLEY

"Gentlemen of the Coal Industry:
Il asked you to meet me here this
| morning with the thought that in
bringing you together l might be
serving both the mine workers and
the mine operators of the United
States, and at the same time serve the
great American public. to which both
you and I are obligated. l hold no
specific authority under which to ad-
monish you, but 1 do have the right
| to invite your immediate attention to
! situation which deeply concerns the
country. the solution of which you
collectively owe to the Amherican
people.
you who are here today represent
large sponsorship for America S
supply of fuel. In that sponsorship
you have an indissoluble relationship
to the common veal of America Coal
is indispensable to our life as a peo-
Pile and since this country has at
forded you the opportunity of devel-
opment on your part both as workers
and operators, you have created. IN
turn. an obligation to serve. Con-
f1icting views as to your policies and
your obligations to one another IN
| that public which made possible your
industrial existence.
Suspended Three Months.
Because of expiring agreements re-
lating to wage scales and working
conditions. a large percentage of the
mining activities of the country have
been suspended three months to a
the merits of your opposing posi-
tions I have not called you as par
tisan of the mine worker or the en-
ployer. l do not mean even to discuss
a single phase of controverted ques-
tions. The main point is to bring you
together, and in that contact of men
to men, mindful of the necessity of
righteousness in any useful and abid-
ing relationship, to have you frankly
and fairly consider your problems in
their relation to the welfare of our
common country
1T is pretty generally recognized
that there are fundamental difficult
ties in present-day coal production
found in an hour or a day of most
friendly and earnest conference. The
excess developement of a producing
capacity, in both tonnage available.
and miners to work it, has presented
one situation demanding solution. or
erty interests and train of unprofit-
able employment. The war upheaval
and all attending inflations and ex-
cess productions have left an inevita-
BILE and unavoidable liquidation. The
intermittence in employment has
made it impossible for mine workers.
who are only employed partial time.
to pursue their trade at wage rates
adjusted to other employments. No
industry is soundly based, no Ameri-
can activity can be held secure, where
employment is compensated on a
base Of half-time or two-thirds of the
normal. natural, work period of an
American wage Garner.
Instability of Production.
There has been instability of pro-
duction. attended by failure of de-
livery capacity, which had reflex in
speculative prices and panicky con-
ditions. which encouraged profiteer-
ing. and menaced our industries and
hampered our varied public services.
Labor has the right, capital has
the right, and, above all else. the
American public has the right to -
freed from these recurring anxieties,
no matter what the causes are. That
freedom must be established.
THE government has no desire to
activities. 1t does feel an obligation
to see that the common American in
terest shall not be menaced by a pro-
tracted lack of fuel. 1t prefers that
the two great and associated interests
mine workers and employers
should settle this matter in frank
recognition of the mutually of your
interests. If you cannot do that,
then the larger public interest must
be asserted in the name of the people,
where the common good is the first
and highest concern.
Il have said that the fundamental
problems probably cannot be solved
in hurried conference. But this con-
ference might well devise the agency
for effecting a solution. This is the
purpose of calling YOU together. the
beginning of solution Meanwhile.
operations ought to be resumed. WIN
diminishing fuel suppliesi with
menacing shortages as we turn to
winters approach, with unemploy-
ment visiting its hardship upon idle
mine workers and with vast owner
ship without return on investment, 1T
would seem to be the simplest COM
mon sense to find acceptable ground
on which to resume activities, with
commitment to accept the righteous
adjustments which may well be ex-
pedited in common consent.
No Time for Militant Note.
This Is no time for the militant
note of the radical who would prefer
to destroy our social system. no time
for the extremist who thinks the
period opportune to break down or
ganized labor. The government has no
ear for either of them, but would
gladly lend its cooperation in curb
ing the extremes Of both. More, the
government gladly tenders you its
good offices, in striving for righteous
pate in a merely temporary make
shift. For the good of all the people
/ the government Graves way to per-
manent stability, tranquility. and
ample periods Of employment at just
wages. righteous freedom for work.
agement. and secure freedom for
recurring menaces of suspended activ-
tiles. 1t Is not a question to what in
f1uences dominate. who wins, who
yields most in settlement. There Is
an indisputable Justice in all rela-
tionships about which public opinion
never fails to be right. and / invite
you to prescribe that relationship for
your mutual good and the country's
common good.
You are admonished to arrive at
such understanding with measurable
the adjustment cannot be reached
by you alone, government aid will be
available at your joint call. We