The New York herald., 1922-07-01
Will Open Meeting To-day
With Call for Overhaul
ing Of Industry.
so EXPECTED TO CONFER
Lasting Peace in Mine Fields
Is Transcending Aim of
the President.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Wa shlnrfnn Irtna Z

Speciof DSputch TO IHr NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., June 30. I
The conference of coal operators
and union miners called by President
Harding to discuss means Of bringing
to a speedy end the three months
strike which has brought the country
to the verge of a coal famine will be
opened by the President at the White
House at 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing
Fifty representatives of the miners
and the operators, as we'll as Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover and Sec
retary of Labor Davis, will attend.
The President will deliver very brief
address on the situation In the coal in
dustry and outline what the Govern
ment expects from the assembly Of
the warning factions.
II was stated to-day that the Presi-
dent would speak only for few min
utes and that the meeting would i'm
mediately adjourn elsewhere. 1t has
not been decided yet where the confer
cnces will be continued. From the very
outset OF the meetings the Government
will be represented by Secretary Hoover
or Secretary Davis, or both, but again
to-day the fact was stressed that the
Government will not endeavor to use
any power other than that of argument
and moral suasion.
Would Rcsdjust Industry.
On the eve OF tho conference It was
stated in the strongest terms on be-
half OF the President that the Admin
istration hopes to get out of this getting
together Of both sides something much
more important than a mere settlement
of the present strike, desired as that end
Is in itself.
While a basis for the resumption Of
work In the union mines VIII be tho
immediate object. what the President
end the Cabinet aim at is the setting
In motion Of machinery, mutually agree
able TO miners and operators. looking
to the readJustment OF the who'll coal
industry.
Unless the conference results in the
establishment of such machinery, Il is
clear that the Administration will be
disappointed. for, Il was said. so long
as the fundamental conditions OF the
industry continue as they are now. Il Is
impossible to avoid intermittent strikes
and recurrent disturbances.
AS Viewed by the Administrat on. the
problems underlying the present strike
are fundamental. The aim shoull be.
IL Is insisted to get away from the
present conditions TO healthy basis
of production. Tho intermittance IN
work at the mines, the Administration
Is convinced, can be overcome only when
production is adjusted to actual needs
throughout the year.
Too Many Mines.
There are now engaged I'm the mining
of coal 40 per cent. more people than
would actually be needed II every roel
miner were guaranteed regular employ
ment throughout the year. Intermittance
In work is, In the main, the result OF
overproduction and overproduction is
largely due TO the fact that there are in
operation hundreds OF mines which can
not be worked economically and which
II would not be necessary TO work at all
II the mines where coal can be most
economically produced were worked TO
full capacity.
The entire wage and earning capacity
OF the miners Is inextricably involved In
these fundamental conditions and so
long as they continue the Government
believes that there will be a continus-
ton OF the unhealthy situation which
iihc bitu 81 hluNil Wal btAfNttll Nltt w
orators and the miners. Above all
things. the Administration hopes that
something will be done toward a COM
plete overhauling OF the system, and un-
I'll that be done there can be little hope
OF a permanent solution or a satisfac-
tory adjustment as between mine labor
and the operators.
Tho Government will steer clear Of
any course that will have even the ap-
pearance OF dictation. The situation In
the coal industry has been frequently
discussed by the Cabinet for the last
two months; every angle TO Il has been
studied. Because OF the absence Of
| legal authority and the disinclnation 10
assume the role Of arblter In industry,
the representatives Of the Government
will have to depend on moral suasion
throughout the efforts to get an agree
ment
There will be some very plain talk
Ing. though threets of any kind are
eschewsd-