The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-07-19
SEARLES POINTS
. OUT DANGER OF
HARDINC'S MOVE
Editor of Miners Journal Dis
cusses Methods of Getting
Coal.
OFFERS COUNTER PROPOSAL
Chief Executive Is Said to Have
Played Into Hands of
Anti-unionists,
By ELLIS sRARLEs.
Editor United Mine Workers Journal
Written. for the limited Menus

Editor United Mine Workers Journal
written for the United News)
WASHINGTON, July 19.-President
Harding has directed the coal oper.
stors. whose mines are idle because
OF the strike of miners. to go back
home and put their mines in oper-
alton.
This means, Of course, that he ad
vises them to use strikebreakers for
that purpose.
Therefore. it would appear that the
President has definitely allied his
Administration with the union-bustins
employers who are waging a ferocious
campaign for the destruction of labor
unions in this country.
Effort Against Unionism
n Among the coal operators TO whom
he gave that advice are found those
who have been carrying on this de.
structive effort against trade union
ism. Many Of them openly boast that
they propose either to destroy the
miners union or cripple it so badly
that it cannot function. They pro-
pose to do this by breaking this strike,
if possible, and changing their mines
from union to non-unton.
Whether President Harding real
ICES it or not, his instructions to them
to return to their homes and operate
their mines gives them the very en-
enlargement and support that they
have been hoping for. They now feel
that the Administration is backing
them in their fight for the destruc'
ton Of the union.
OF Serious Import to Unions
This IS a matter OF serious import
to the entire trade union movement
In this country. It makes the miners
fight the fight of every labor union in
the land, for If these union-bustins
employers were to succeed in their at
tempt to wipe out the United Mine
Workers of America, they would find
It an easy task to kill off any and al
other unions against which they
might feel disposed TO direct their bat
teries. They are employing sound
military tactics IN striking the line OF
their adversary at its strongest point
for if they can break the line at that
point they can smash the rest or the
line with ease.
There is a better way to settle this
strike. but President Harding appar-
emily has not seen fit to adopt it. This
sSbetter plan would be fair TO all parties
Dooncerned, the miners, the operators
and the public
And it may we'll be added that this
better plan is the one that will yet
have to be adopted
Should Call In Both Sides
Instead of aligning the Administra'
ton with the union-busting employers
in their campaign for destruction OF
the miners union, the President
should call in the operators and the
miners, seat them around table and
then say TO them:
This thing has gone far enough Ii
has got to stop right now. l shall ex'
meet and I command you men to sit
around this table and adjust your diff
ferences and reach an agreement that
will produce coal. Don't tell me you
viii not The Government says you
shall"
Such a conference would result IN
a perfectly peaceful, orderly settle
nent. These men would thrash out
their differences and, at the end OF
the conference, everybody would be
satisfied and the public would get
coal.