Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-07-13
PEACE At MINES
IS BELIEVED NEAR
President Harding Asks Both
Sides to Defer Wages. 49,
WILL NAME, u. S. COMMISSION
Executives Statement Says Mine
Workers Will Return to Work on
the Scale of Wages Which Elk.
pired Last March.

Washington, July 11.-President
| Harding on Monday delivered the gov
ernnfent's final ultimatum to the war.
ring coal miners and operators.
AT brief, tense session at the
White House, the President fatty in
| formed them that coal mining actiyi-
ties must be resumed at once and that
they must submit the disputes which
they apparently are unable to iron out
to the arbitration of commission ap-
pointed by the government.
What President Said.
In his talk to the coal operators and
miners the President said:
1.-The information has come to me-
that your conference is deadlocked or
at the best attempting to agree upon
plans which will require extended
time to work out / have said here
tofore that the government prefers
you. who are parties to the dispute,
should settle it between yourselves be-
cause you best understand all the
problems involved.
'"The government cannot settle II
for you. 1t will force no man to
work against his free will; it will
force no man to employ men against
the free exercise of an employers
right. The government will not be
partisan, but the government is con-
cerned with coal production sufficient
to meet the industrial and transpor-
tation requirements of the country
and to safeguard against fuel fam.
Inc when winter comes again and it
Is desired to have produc' re-
sumed at once.
The Presidents Proposi
= "YOur government does deS
be helpful. With such tho.
therefore, I submit to you the folloa
Ing proposal:
Mine workers are to return to
work on the scale Of wages which
expired last March 81 and mines now
idle because of strike or SUSPENDED
operations to resume activities with
out interference with activities of
mines now working.
''The 1922 scale to be effective IN
til August 10.
"a coal commission to be created
at once, consisting of three members
selected by the mine workers, three
members selected by the mine opera
tors and five members to be named
by the President All decisions BY
this commission shall be accepted as
final r v8ni7'h brf EensTs'n: ,e~qa
'This commissions Ito determine. III
possible, within 80 days from today,
for the. miners on a strike, a tenn
porary basic wage scale which scale
shall be effective until March 1, 1923.
I'm event that the commission is
unable to report its scale by August
10, 1t shall have power to direct con-
tinued work on the 1922 scale until
a superseding scale is ready. i
Wants Every Phase Investigated.
The commission: shall investigate
exhaustively every phase of the coal
industry, It shall reveal every cost
Of production and Transportation. The
President will ask, congress to confer
authority for the most thorough In
vestigation and make appropriations
necessary to do such work.
"The commission shall make recon-
mendations looking to the establish
ment or maintenance of Industrial
peace In the coal industry, the elimina-
ton Of waste. due to intermittency
and instability and suggest plans for
dependable fuel supply.
II have taken this short cut to :.
resumption Of operations because I
believe 1t to- be in the interests Of.
public welfare -...-~>. u i
1T is that simple form of adjust
Ing disputes which answers the call
OF good conscience and a just civil-
cation. When two great forces do not
agree, there must be a peaceful way
TO adjustment and such an arbitra-
ton opens the way.
Expects wsII-Wslghed Reply.
II do not expect a reply without
Due consideration. Please take the
proposal to separate conferences. II
wish you to eppraise the situation.
weigh your responsibilities and then
answer this proposal as you wish to
be appraised by American public
opinion.
i am speaking first Of all for the
public interests, but I am likewise
1aindful of the rights of both work
ers and operators. You are also an
inssparable part of that public inter
eat. With due regard to all con-
cerned, It ought to be easy to find
way to resume activities and command
the approval OF the American puhl,c y