The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-25
Contracts Terminated if Ma
tiOnal Emergency Is Declared.
Cabinet Meeting Today Talks
Over the Harding Plan.
IAN SEND COAL TO ANY POINT
Michigan's Governor Still in
Hope to Operate Mines.
Operators in Other Sections
Prepare to Run Soon.

washington, July z5--PreSloent
Harding has submitted to the coal
operators and miners a plan for set
Ting the coal strike, based upon guar
anteeing to the miners a minimum
wage for at least ESQ days in the year,
it was announced officially at the
White House this afternoon.
Washington, July 25.-Contractural
obligations for purchase and delivery
of coal will automatically be abro-
gated when tho interstate commerce
commission declared an emergency to
exist and begins the issuance of pri-
ority orders. it was stated today by
Secretary of Commerce Hoover, chief
sponsor of the governments emer-
gency program.
Saginaw, Mich, July Ex-Governor
Alex J. GrOeSbeck renewed his efforts
here today to bring about resumption
of operations in Michigan's bitumi-
nous coal mines. This governor came
here for a conference with state heads
of the miners union and the mine
operators, convinced that nothing but
loyalty to the national union stood in
the way of a return to work of miners.
Washington, July 25-The immedi-
coal strike situation was declared at
the White House today to be a contin-
uation of its endeavors to furnish pro-
lection to men willing to work in the
mines and to put into motion the ma
chinery decided upon for distribution
of the dwindling coal supply.
The administration spokesman in
discussing the coal strike situation
said appointment of a federal, COM
mission to go into the coal industry
and ascertain the facts was not in
prospect at least this week.
The statement was made that
should coal not be produced in ap-
preciable quantities under this protec-
ton and in accordance with the pres
ident's invitation to the operators to
open the mines, some other steps
might be taken, but that President
Harding was unwilling TO consider at
this time what they might be.
Determines Where Coal Goes.
The governments plans calls for the
appointment by President Harding OF
a presidential committee which will
virtually constitute a coal and trans
portation priority committee. This
committee will comprise representa-
tives of the departments of commerce.
justice and interior and will operate
under the general supervision of the
interstate commerce commission.
experimenting this presidential
committee will be an administrative
tatives of the governmen ent, the rail-
roads and coal operators and upon
this committee will devolve the duty
of getting coal to its proper destina-
tion. Both organizations will func-
ton under the direction of the inter-
state commerce commission
In each coal producing district a
government representative will be ap-
pointed as well as a committee of pro-
ducing coal operators and these will
cooperate to insure the dispatch of
shipments.
Say Prices To Be Fair"
Prices will be governed by the
moral suasion" exercised by the gov
ernment officials concerned with the
emergency and by the absolute power
ALLEGATION of cars to the mine owners,
the theory being that recalcitrant
operators will be disciplined by the
allotment of cars
Generally speaking. 1t was said to-
day, prices will be maintained on a
level approximating those prevailing
June I, last.
That the plan evolved is an intri-
downs was frankly admitted today by
it's chief sponsors. The opinion was
generally expressed in administration
circles, however, that it will suffice to
keep the country's essential industries
and utilities going until peace can be
established in the twin rail and coal
strike.
For the time being, peace efforts
appear to have broken down in Wash
ington under the more pressing need
for measures that will stave off
freezing.
Second Day Test F1zzles.
Cannonsburg, Pa. July 25.-The
second days test of the Harding plan
of opening coal mines in southwestern
Pennsylvania under military protec-
ton ffzzled today. reports from all
points in the coal fields indicate.
No disturbance of any kind was
reported this forenoon. Troops d and
of the 1O4th cavalry national guard,
left Cannonsburg and are on their way
to Burgettestown and Morgansea-