The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-08-28
SEIZURE OF MINES
WON'T END STRIKE
Anthracite Workers Say De-
InandS Must Be Met.
IGNORE HAROlNG'S THREAT
Would Expect of Government Same
Terms as Are Now Required From
Cperators-Set Against Arbitration.

operators-Set Against Arbitration.
Wilkes Barre. Pa. Aug. 2S.-preSi-
dent Harding may sei|" the anthracite
mines bu1 the government will never
be able to get the l1o.Oo0 hard coAl
strikers back at work unless the de-
mandS for which they have been hold
ing out are met.
This is nOl an ultimatum that the
Anthracite workers have flung back At
lie Washington administration, but II
is a plain statement Of facts ANA is
absolutely true.
The presidents threat to take over
the anthracite mines at once has not
struck any popular chord among The
men. Before there can be any en-
preston of joy the hard coal workers
want to know the president 5 plan.
Will the president ask the men To go
back on the final terms of the op2.'at-
orS us laid down at the recent Phlla-
delpha conferences or will he ask HE
strikers TO return on a stra.S.i, coll
tract Tor TWO years: If his plan a.
operators on on Il plan that involves
arbitration i'll any form, then the l.h'-
GOO strikers will refuse to work Ior
tile government, just us they have -
fused 10 work for the operators. il
the government should ask the men Il
return on the old scale until April /,
l.l23. IHrN Will turn such Il reQ,.e>-
down, for ii like offer has already bee
made 10y The operators and has htrn
rejected. Return 10 Tx can Il,
brought about only by renewal 81
the 1870 wage scale until April !. l92 l.
William J. Brennan, president q
District No. |. when asked what eiiccj
government seizure would have if i
ula.rri;liiZ"S. said:
"trdrrn! seiZnr" would have litt.r
or no effect on The situation 4, =
stands Unless the taking over o. tn.
mines lntamS Il definite Sc !'I..: -.
SIMILAR to ln..i which the miners de-
niund from the Operators the lata Wi
not return To work raider an. circuh:
stances.
If government Intervention cara :
with il arbitration in any form tIl'
government will quickly discover ihu.
the miners will moi haV anything t.
do with il. The government can ac-
cumpliSh more by laying stress on y
settlement between miners and operat-
Ors than it can 10y threats of seizure
or the actual taking over of the mines.
There is but Il very narrow margin i'll
the differences. The government should
understand that miners and the oper-
atOrS are only too willing 10 considC.
any suggestion which might lead to
settlement"
1t is freely admitted that the anthra-
cite opera tors would rather anything
else WWIld happen than the govern
ment seize the mines, bur tex miners
and their leaders Oppose pA such
move for very good reasons ~
Attorney William :. Glasgow, .C;:;.Il-
sci for the union. il is reported, has
warned the leaders that their polio.
might be heading them IL some form
Of arbitration. probably of compul-
snry nature.
Another Hatter that is causing con
siderable speculation ale the repui'.s
that The fact-tindin" commission set
up by the bill now before congress
Will moi only investigate the Industry
from The operators side, but Will probe
deeply into the affairs Of the United
Mine Workers Of America 1t is gen
orally reported, and quite generally
believed here. that the presidents de
termination not To name on that com
mission any men connected with either
side OF the hard coal industry means
that men Of high standing who are out
of politics and can be depended on to
tell the whole truth will be named.
and they will be called upon TO ger the
facts on each side. Such d commits
sion would not only probe into costs
and profits from the operators side.
but would delve deeply into finances Of
the union.
There is certain to be quick action
on the par; of both sides to the con-
troversy This week.