The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-04-01
Half Million Workers Walk Out in
National Coal Strike; Government
Abandons Attempt to Avert Tieup
Operators Criticized for Re-
fusal to Nee, Employees in
Wage Confcrence-liard.
ing Reviews Negotiations.
Little Fear Of Violence
BY GRAFTON s. WILCOX.
Omaha ts~s Leased Wire.

omaoo usS t%sssu v"ss
Washington. March 5l.-Presiden'
Harding. on tile eve OF the coal
strike. expressed regre, that the gov
efnment had been unable TO aver:
the suspension OF work in the mines
and the hope that the controversy
between the operators and miners
would soon be settled.
Everything that j, Was seemly
Tor the government TO do TO prevent
the strike. the presiden, said, had
been done. There had been no co.
eFcion because the government had
no power in the premises, inasmuch
as the mere threat OF strike could
no, be regarded as serious emer.
gcncy.
Blame for the failure OF the gov.
ernmen,'s effort to bring about
conference between the bi,umlnous
operators and miners was laid by the
administration at the door OF the
western Pennsylvania operators. who
refused all overtures, the president
disclosing that even the persuasive
powers OF Secretary Mellon, who
comes from Pittsburgh and knows
most OF the operators intimately. had
failed TO sway the operators IRON
their determination that confer
ence with the miners would be futile
Little Fear Of Violence.
The president has no thought that
the strike viii lead to violence thai
will demand government interier.
encc. A report that the government
contemplated mobilizing its air fore.
es for emergencies at the mines. Mr.
Harding vehemently denied.
Mr.. Harding reviewed the efforts
Of the government to bring about a
conference, beginning last fall when
the mine workers refused to listen to
an invitation for a joint conference
That was before their convention
After their convention when they
agreed upon terms to be demanded
of the operators, the latter would not
listen to an invitation to confer
ence. Rake.
A resolution for an investigation
of costs Of production of coal by
the federal trade commission was in
troduced in the senate today by SEN
ator Calder, New York, who has
sponsored bills for the regulation OF
the coal industry. Senator Calder
attempted to obtain immediate ac-
ton on his resolution, but action was
deferred as a result of objections by
Senator Sutherland Of West Vir-
ginia.
Good Stock on Hand.
George Otis Smith, director OF the
geological survey, and F. G. Tryon,
coal statistician OF the survey, were
witnesses before. the house commit
tee on labor in its investigation OF
the coal situation. They gave statis-
tics relative to stocks Of coal on
hand.
Mr.. Tryon informed the commit
tee that according to the latest esti-
mated bituminous coal stocks in the
hands of consumers April 1, will
amount to about 63000,00O tons, or
enough to last for 81 days. Mr..
Tryon said that the railroads and
public utilities have been piling up
reserves in anticipation OF a strike
and that the stocks are unusually
large. The estimate Of coal on hand
April l, Mr.. Tryon said, means an
increase of about an eight-days' sup
ply over the total on March l. Mr..
Tryon said that if reserves go below
20,000,000 tons the market would be
likely to be seriously affected.
Senator LaFollette, Wisconsin, is
sued a statement assailing the coal
operators.
at midnight" he said. "the or.
ganized miners Of this country will
lay down their tools and cease work.
In spite Of every effort made by the
representatives Of the unions and
the good offices Of the Labor de-
partinent, the mine operators have
declined to meet the representatives
of the mines, as they are bound to do
in specific terms by their existing
contract. Confronted with this
situation, there was nothing for
the miners to do but to strike.
"The years 1921 and 1922 have
been devoted by the master Of bus
mess and credit to the internal task
of debating labor and destroying
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