New-York tribune., 1922-08-19


President Harding's coal-rail mes
sage to Congress contains several
concrete suggestions. As to coal, he
asks for authority to appoint two
government commissions. One will
make a "fact-fnding'a investigation.
such as the Cleveland agreement be-
tween certain groups of operators
and the miners union also contem-
plates. 1t will lay bare all the dis
heartening conditions in the sick coal
industry. 1t will go into every phase
OF production, sale and distribution.
1t will advise as to wages and condi-
ttons of labor and submit plans for
reorganization of mining on an
economic basis. The governments
inquiry will not be hampered by the
desire OF operators or miners to pro-
tect their special interests. It will
be independent of the industry and
wilA concern itself mainly with pro-
tecting the public against artifcially
hampered and overcostly produc
ton, as well as against recurrent
strikes and fuel shortages.
The President also requests Con-
gress to make provisions for tenn
porary Federal coal agency, with the
necessary capital to purchase, sell
and distribute coal entering into in
terstate transportation. This agency
is intended to restrain profteering
and to insure fair allotment of coal
to the various sections of the country
While the present shortage lasts.
These two instrumentalities are
needed to liquidate the present coal
hoid-up and to give the coal industry
fresh start. The deeper evils
which have developed, including the
brutal denial of the right of non
union men to work in idle unionized
mines, so shockingly faunted in the
public's face at Herrin, ILL.,, are left
to be dealt with after Federal prob
ing OF the industry is over.
AS to the rail shipments walk-out.
the President bluntly says that the
decisions of the Railroad Labor
Board must be made enforceable
and effective against carriers and
employees alike" Congress lacked
the courage to direct the government
to enforce these decisions, thus end
ing all legal resistance to them ex-
cept through an appeal to the courts.
1t is duty to the users of the roads
to extend and fortify the boards
powers, with view to vetoing inter-
ruptions of service. The public would
stand behind Congress in putting
teeth at once into the Esch- Cummins
act. The President, however, eau
tlously recommends waiting until the
resentment aroused by the walk-out
and the recent OUTLAW" marooning
OF passenger trains has subsidized. But
strengthening the transportation law
would be easier and mean9more now.
Relief is twice welcome if il comes
quickly.
Evidently the Administration be-
heyes that the coal strike is broken
and that the shop crafts walk-out
order will soon be rescinded. He
went to an extreme in his mediation
efforts, even iinperiling a principle
that Of loss Of seniority--which
the Railroad Labor Board has estab-
lished as one of the logical conse-
quences of a strike against its de-
cisions.
The Presidents compromise eff
forts failed and he prefers not to
act again as mediator. Public opin-
ion will compel an ending of the rail
shop strike, as it has compelled a
renewal of mining. The government
is really more deeply concerned with
maintaining the essentials Of order
and justice-violated in both these
strikes Law as Mr.. Harding
says, must and viii be sustained"
The message closes with note of
determination which augurs we'll for
ssae destruction of false conceptions
which have crept into American life.
The public interest and The rights of
mejorities must prevail over the
claims Of self-seeking, restrictionist
minorities. We shall get back at last
to democratic theory and equity If
this manly pledge of the President is
embodied irrevocably in our national
policy: aWhegefore ! am resolved