The Topeka state journal., 1922-07-18
Virtual Order to Open With the
Protection of e. S. Troops.
Operators Greet Announcement
by Harding With Favor.
HARDING MAKES OTHER PLANS
Meeting With Cabinet Today to
Outline a Real Program.
Miners Look Worried, Sit Tight
and Are Saying Nothing.

(By the Associated Press.l
Washington, July Is. - President
Harding late today will send stimuli
taneously kilograms directing the op-
orators Of all bituminous mines shut
down because of strike conditions, TO
resume operations at once and re-
questfng the governors of those states
in which the mines operate to furnish
such military protection as may De
needed. If state troops find it i'm
possible to cope with the situauon'
federal troops, it was understood may
be employed
Cabinet in Full Accord.
Plans for such action by the presi-
dent were understood to have received
the unanimous support OF the cabinet
at today's meeting of that body at
which the industrial situation was dis
cussed in all its ramifications-
The advice to the mine operators,
and the governors will point out the
imperative necessity for early resump-
tion of the mining industry in the IN
terest of the public and will also
brfeefIy urge that orderly procedure
be observed in the execution of the,
plan
Prediction was made today by Sam
uel Gompers. president of the Amerl-
can Federation of Labor. that Presi-
dent Harding's invitation to the bitum-
inous coal operators to return to their
properties and resume operation would
result in no appreciable increase in the
production of coal
Coal rationing this winter, similar
tofthat existing during the war period,
already is virtually assured, according
to opinions expressed today in gov
eFnment circles
Washington, July 1S.-While coal
operators were scattering to their dis
tricts today to reopen their idle mines
under a mandate from the federal
government. with the assurance Of
protection that such a mandate inn
plies, President Harding went into
session with his cabinet to map out
complete program of government pro-
cedure.
That the long discussed showdown
and crisis is actually at hand, no one
in Washington doubted today.
The president has virtually ordered
the coal mines of the country to open
under a guarantee of protection of
federal troops, If necessary to insure
coal enough to keep the country from
freezing next winter.
Rail Strike Bothers Again.
With the die cast in the coal strike,
however. the allied strike of railway
shopmen and its attendant Interrupt
ton of transportation assumed para
Government officials. who would
express an opinion freely, admitted
that unless the gOvernmen is success
ful in its efforts to settle the railroad
strike. the reopening of the mines will
be a fruitless accomplishment within
"A few weeks because there will be no
cars to transport the coal once it is
mined
There was frank apprehension in
government quarters today that the
strike of other crafts in the railroad
industry might be hastened by the re-
sentiment felt in labor circles over the
reopening of the mines under troop
protection.
The federal government plans to
move cautiously in the matter of send
ing troops of the regular army to mine
strike duty.
Up To Local Authorities First
Protection of the mines first of all
is the duty of local officials-munici-
pal and state-and until these agen-
cies have broken down, President
Harding does not intend to aggravate
an already tense situation by the dis
patch of regulars into any district.
1t was made clear, however, by ad-
min.stration spokesmen that President
Harding is determined coal shall be
mined and to that end he will not
hesitate, should the emergency arise,
OF resorting to every power possessed
by abe feedral government to accom-
plish 1t. )
The expectation prevailed in Wash
ington today that Pennsylvania mines !
would be the first to reopen. The
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