The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-06-24
Harding Takes
New Step to End
Miners Strike
Cabinet Considers Situation
Following Violence in I'LL.
nois-Official Report
Is Demanded.
BY GRAFTON WILCOX.
Omahn Bee Leased Wire.

Washington, June 23.-The muir
ders and other outrages in the coal
fields of southern Illinois have stirred
the administration to a renewed ef-
fort to settle the coal strike.
President Harding, following cab
met consideration Of the Illinois
strike violence, let it be known that
the government has taken new step
looking to adjustment of the strike,
but would not disclose the details.
The president, it was said, realized
that efforts of the government to end
strikes are some times not appreci-
ated and often get nowhere, but it is
his conviction that the government
should do everything in its power to
end the conflict now.
Ack for Reports.
The Illinois assassinations, Presi-
dent Harding greatly deplores. At
the cabinet meeting this morning, the
disclosure was made that the govern
ment had no ofticial'report on the oc-
currences at Herrin, and inquiries
were sent out to federal authorities
in Illinois to make complete reports
to Washington at once.
There is little that the president
can do to end the strike, other than
to persuade the miners and operators
to come to Washington for confer
ence.
So far as can be learned, the presi-
dent has issued no invitation for such
conference, but some of his ad-
visers believe that inquiries have been
sent out which may lead to the call
of joint conference in Washington
in the near future.
All members OF the cabinet appre-
ciate the danger in the coal strike
situation aside from the violence that
may spread to other mining centers.
The summer is getting we'll along
and coal supplies are getting threat
eningly low. Something. they insist,
must be done to bring about resump-
ton of coal production. if suffering
is to be averted next winter.
Davis Issues Statement.
Secretary of Labor Davis issued a
statement following the meeting of
the cabinet in which he denounced
the Illinois mine murders and called
for prosecution of the guilty to the
fullest extent of the law.
"The Department of Labor" said
Secretary Davis, deeply deplores
the violence which has resulted in
loss of life in the coal fields of H.
linois. American workmen on both
sides of the controversy over the re-
iations between the mine worker and
the mine operator have been killed
and injured. Those who are guilty
Of this crime should be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law. One
of the unfortunate features of this
deplorable occurrence is that the
death of these men will accomplish
nothing in the direction of settle
ment of the dispute. Surely those
responsible for the occurrence of this
strike, both among the workers and
among the employers, should seri-
ously consider the fate of these work.
men. Surely no better argument can
be advanced for the settlement OF
these disputes around the conference
table, than the bodies of score or
more of American workmen, who met
a futile death in this outbreak. Sure
ly, in this civilized age, matters of
dispute between men in industry
can be adjusted without resort to
bloodshed,"