South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-19
TEXT OF HARDING
SPECIAL MESSAGE
ON RAIL PROBLEM

Day said in part:
Gentlemen OF tie congress:
IT is manifestly my duty 20 bring
TO your attention the Industrial sit
ration which confronts the country.
The situation growing out OF the
prevailing railway and coal mining
strikes ls so serious. 30 menac.ng 10
the nations welfare, that I should be
rem.ss II ] failed frankly 20 lay the
matter before YOU and al the same
time acquaint you and the whole
people with such efforts as the ex-
ecutive branch or the government
has made by the voluntary exercise
OF - good Offices 10 effect a se.-
tlement"
tThe president then reviewed ne
history OF the mine strikeD
Previous Measures Fail.
The government had no other
course" he added. "than 10 invite
a resumption OF production under
the rights Of al, parties TO the con-
troversy with assurance OF govern
nent protection OF each and every
one IN his lawful pursuits This
fact was communicated 10 the gov
ernors o. All coal producing states,
and with two exceptions assurances
OF maintained law and order were
prom pity given In some instances
concrete proof OF effective readi-
ness 20 protect all men, strikers ana
non-striklng workmen alike. was
promptly given. But little or no
new production followed. The sim
pie but significant truth was reveal
ed that, except for such coal as
comes from the districts worked by
non-Organized miners. the country
Is at the. mercy of the United Mine
Workers
Governors In various states re-
ported that their operators and
miners had no dispute and were
eager 20 resume production. Dis
trict leaders Informed mo that their
workmen were anxious 70 return 20
their Jobs but tina, they were not
permitted 20 do 80 Hundreds OF
wives or wOrkmen have addressed
the White House beseeching settle
ment. alleging that they knew no
grievance, and there Is an amending
story OF appeals for relief where
necessity or suffering were impeli
irg. where a mere expression OF need
ought TO ind ready compliance.
AT every stage. the government
has been a just neutral regarding
wese scales and working contracts.
/ There are fundamental evils in our
| present system of producing and
! distribution which make the wage
problem dificult. In the bitumin-
I Gus coal fields are vastly more mines
/ than are requisite 10 the country )
/ needs. and there are 100000 more
/ mine workers than are needed to
produce in continuous employment
! the country's normal requirements.
BY continuous employment / mean
approximately $50 working days
| IN the year. In many instances last
year, men were employed less than
| 80 days. in some cases much few
ct than that.
In the over-manned sections
/ men divide the working time, and
high weges are necessary TO meet
the cost cf the barest living. Inter
rupted transportation. sorely broken
| equipment. the failure 10 develop
storage against enlarged demands
and inadquate carryirg-al these
present problems bearing on rishte-
Gus wage adjustment, and demand
/ constructive solution.
Probe Coal Industry.
Because OF these things, because
of the impressions Of many cases
I OF unjustifable profits in the indus
try and because public interest de-
/ mands investigation and dema nds
the finding of fac-s be given 10 the
public. / am asking = your hands
4 the authority TO cre"te a commission
| TO make a searching investigation
/ into the whole coal Industry, with
/ provision for its lawful activities
and the bestowal OF authority to re-
veal every phase OF coal production.
/ sale Tnd distribution. l am speak
/ ing now on behalf Of mine work
ers. nine operators and the Amerl-
can Iublic. 1t viii bring protection
/ TO all and point the way TO cOntinu-
! ity of production and the better eco
nOmic fuuctiOning Of the Industry in
the future
The necessity for such a search
ing national Investigation with con-
I structive recomme ndation is impera
tive. At the moment the coal skies
are clearing. but unless we find a
/ cure for tine economic ills which af-
feet the industry and therein find a
basis for righteous relationship we
shall be faced with a Ike menacing
situation on next April l. on the
expiration of the wage contracts
which are now being made
L. :. Must step In.
The need for such investigation
and independent consideration is re-
vealed by both operators and mine
workers in the provision i'm the
/ Cleveland agreement so recently
made. The government viii gladly
cooperate with the industry in this
/ program so far as X is the public in
terest so 10 do. but I have an unal-
4 terable conviction that no lasting
| satisfaction or worthwhile results
| Will ensue unless we may have a
government commission. independ-
ent OF the industry. clothed with
Iauthority by The congress to search
deeply. so that il may advise as 70
/ fair wages and as TO conditions OF
I labor and recommend the enact
ment OF laws 20 protect the public
I in he future.
( The almost total exhaustion OF
strikes or coal. the crippled condition
OF the railways, the distressed situa-
/ tion that has arisen and might grow
worse I'm our great cities due 10 the
sbo~-age of anthracite the sufferfn z
which might arise IN the northwest
through failure 20 meet winter needs
4 by lake transportation. all these add
ed 20 the possibility OF outra geous
! nrica demands. IN spite Of The most