The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-28
Harding Summons Both Sides
in Coal Trouble to Capital
Informal Meeting To Be Held
on Saturday, To Reach Basis.
DISORDER IN NATION GROWS
Strike Troubles and Small
Wars Are Breaking Out Anew.
Illinois Called Outlaw State for
Not Furnishing SIayerS.

Pittsburg, Kan, June 2s.-If the
state takes control of the coal indus
try in Kansas it will be because coal
is not being distributed over Kansas
to meet the demands and not because
coal is not being produced in Kansas.
Governor Henry ]. Allen told the
Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce at a
luncheon today.
The governor said that coal pro-
duction is increasing and is sufficient
to care for Kansas demand If prop
erly distributed. Unless the operators
make proper distribution to fill these
demands the governor Indicated the
state would attempt to see that such
distribution is made.
Washington, June 2s.-President
Harding has decided TO summon 20
Washington Saturday a group of rep
resentative coal operators from all
parts of the United States to discuss
with representative of the miners
union the possibility of a conference
to fix wage scales that would settle
the bituminous coal strike.
An announcement explaining the
proposal will be made later in the
day.
Arrangements were completed after
conferences at the White House today
in which Secretaries Davis and Hoover
participated, while John l. Lewis.
the president Monday. remained in the
capital for the purpose of considering
the matter.
Is an Informal Affair.
The coming conference, which IL is
understood will assemble at 10 o'clock
Saturday, will discuss solely what
steps may be taken to get the wage
negotiations on foot.
To date the miners union has de-
manded national conference. while
aAr,v-e
such gathering have countered with
proposals to meet in district confer
ences for separate district wage fixing.
The Miners Will Come.
President Lewis, who waited at the
department of labor while Secretary
Davis in conference with the president
arranged the final details of the Sat
urday meeting, announced that mine
union representatives would respond
to the appeal of the president for a
preliminary conference
No official or executive indication.
however, was given that the meeting
President Harding is expected to call
would find either party to the con-
troversy yielding its stand as TO the
type of conference.
The gathering Saturday will be en-
tirely informal and devoted to discuss
ing what sort of basis might be
adopted to bring the union officials
and the employers reports into a toint
wage agreement, the agreement to be
either a single national contract or
a various number of separate district
contracts.
Nearly 80 Owners Called.
Between 25 and 80 operators will
be invited. it was said at the depart
ment of labor, and the conference
will consider methods of negotiating
wage scales that will end the strike in
the anthracite as well the bitunlfn-
Gus fields.
First announcement of the confer
ence had indicated that it would be
confined to the bituminous fields. but
officials later said 1t would take in
the entire coal industry Of the nation
The presidents invitation to the
miners was in the form OF the fol-
lowing communication handed TO
President Lewis:
I'm accordance with some recent
informal discussion. am here off
cially extending to you an invitation
to meet with me at the White House
executive offices, on Saturday morn
ing. July I, at 10 O'Clock for a con-
ference to devise methods upon which
negotiations for the settlement of the
coal strike may be initiated.
L have also extended invitations TO
other district president and to the bi-
luminous and anthracite operators
association concerned"
(By the Associated Prsss)
Springfield, Ill, June 2s.-PreSident
Frank Harrington of the Illinois mine
workers this afternoon reported to the
organization's executive board that he
had called up presidents of all local