The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-20
Governors
to Support
President
Pledge Aid to Harding in
Attempt to End Coal Strike
Morrison Opposed
to Policy.
No Reply from Illinois

Washington, July l9.-Governor.
OF the coal-producing states, almost te
a man, are ready TO back Presiden,
Harding to the limit in his determine
ton TO &c, coal produced at any haz
ard in sufficient quantities to meet
the nations needs. .H-
They indicated their overwhelm-
ing endorsement Of the presidents S
strike policy in tclegrams responding
to Mr.. Harding's plea for state CO.
operation with the federal govern
ment ia supplying ample protection
for the reopening and operation OF
the mines.
Governor Morrison of North Caro-.
lima was the only state executive to
disagree with the presidents policy.
81 am truly sorry" Governor Nor
rison wired. that a judgment long
formed and repeatedly expressed will
not permit me to agree with your po-
sition.' .
Should Uphold Law.
"l believe the full duty OF the gov
ernment and the part OF wisdom is
to uphold the law with fearless i'm
partlali:y and promptness. Your posi-
ton is practically to use the power
Of the government against the strik-
ers and in the enforcement of police
regulations and the upholding Of the
law, the strikers will naturally have
little confidence in the impartialty OF
fairness OF soldiers or other agencies
Of force directed by government
which has taken a decided stand
against them, however good the
reason for such stand may be-"
The conspicuous exception to the
response to the presidents appeal
was in the case OF Illinois. While
virtually all of the other coal uproduc-
ing states had been heard from. no
response had been received at the
White House from the governor or
the acting governor Of lilinois up
to late hour. Because OF the Herrin
killings. there was more interest in
the attitude Of the Illinois authorities
than in the attitude of any other
state.
Kendall Pledges Support.
Governor Kendall Of Iowa wired:
"As chief executive Of the state OF
Iowa, | pledge every resource OF tine
state to the support OF the program.
you have inaugurated for the rehef
Of the fuel situation"
This telegram was typical. Gov
ernor McCray OF Indiana tele-
graphcd;; ,.-
Telegram just received. Indiana
mine operators have been invited to
resume mining opertions. Ample
protection will be given to protect
life and property"
Governor Sproul OF Pennsylvania,
Governor Davis of Ohio. Governor
Morrow of Kentucky and Governor
Morgan of West Virginia all pledged
their support to the president. Gov
crror Allen of Kansas said that the
industrial court had ordered the
mines recpcned and that about 50
per cent OF the states needs was now
being produced. r..
Unions Threaten Reprisals.
While the federal and state govern
ments were preparing for show
down on the question of producing
coal, union officials got ready for
drastic reprisals in case any attempt
was made to reopen the mines with
nonunion workers. They frankly
declared that if the mines were re-
opened with nonunion men, orders
would be issued for a strike of
maintenance workers. This soon
would mean the flooding OF the
mines and long period Of idleness.
Because Of this prospect it is under
stood that the Pennsylvania anthra-
cite operators will not open their
mines until they reach a settlement.
No legislation can be Of assistance
in settling the pending coal and rail-
road strikes, Senator Borah. Idaho,
chairman of the senate committee on
education and labor said. following
a conference with Sau,nel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor. =
Gompers Hopeful.
Those who participated in the con-
ference besides Mr.. Gompers and
Senator Borah were Senators Walsh.
Massachusetts,, and King, Utah. and
Frank Morrison, American Fedora
ton of Labor, and Edgar Wallace, a
legislative representative of the fed
Grafton.
The general labor situation was
discussed at length, including the po-
sition of the strikers in both the coal
strike and the railroad strike.
Senator Borah said that Mr.. Com
pers had expressed hope that matters
would be adjusted in = reasonable
time.
Senator Lodge. Massachusetts,. re-
publican leader in the senate, issued
= statement calling upon "all patriot
ic Americans to Sustain the presi-
dent"
President Lewis of the United
Mine Workers is remaining in Wash
ington, continuing negotiations with
some of the leaders. He stated that
no agreements could be entered into
with individual operators, but that
efforts were being made to bring a
sufficient number of the operators
into the negotiations to represent a