Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-28
HARDING MAY
SEIZE COAL
MINES
Drastic Action Also Planned
To Control Great Rail
Strike in July
! ADMINISTRATION TEST
Union Leaders Say They
Will Meet Employers Half
Way on Compromise

WASHINGTON, June 28.-Govern-
ment seizure and operation of the coal
miners for at least year is provided
in a resolution introduced in the home
today by Representative Burke, Penn
sylvania, union labor leader. The res
olution authorizes and directs the pres
ident to take over and operate the
mines for II year or as long thereafter
as he sees fit.
President Harding today called a
conference of the coal miners and OPP
orators in the central competitive dis
trict, which he hopes will bring about
the termination of the nationwide coal
strike.
Announcement of the president s
determination to call the peace con-
ference was made by Secretary of
Labor Davis after meeting the presi-
dent and John l.. Lewis, president OF
the United Mine Workers.
The conference will he held here at
10 clock Saturday morning, Davis
said.
Immediate and drastic action by the
federal government in the event of
strike of 100000 rail workers on july
/ is probable, it was learned from high
authorities.
President Harding is determined to
uphold the railroad labor board in
whatever action it takes against the
railroad workers or the railroads.
y Federal Power Involved
It's decisions are to be enforced
with all the power at the federal gov
ernment s command.
Because the strike will be directed
against decision of the board cut
ting wages, federal officials believe the
government has the power to act, in
contrast of it's virtual helpessness to
force a termination Of the coal strike.
The probability of rail strike with n
large percentage of the coal mines of
the country idle presents to the ad-
mnistraton its most grave domestic
problem since Harding assumed office.
There is no doubt that with the first
pinch of coal shortage near, the sit
uatiOn is causing concern in official
circles.
Plan Contract Work
CHICAGO, June 2S.-Railroads NOV
ed today to place all shop work under
the contract system, in case of a strike
of more than 100000 workers, set for
July /.
strike, railroad officials believe,
will give them the opportunity, long
sought, to place their shop work with
contractors. This is opposed by the
United States rail labor board, but the
executives claim that the men by
striking, win violate the board s rul
ing first, and to meet the situation,
they will be entitled to extend the
contract system.
Rail union leaders today waited for
reply to the strike ultimatum sent
by the shop crafts to the association of
railroad executives.
Unions Would Compromise
1t was learned on good authority that
union leaders would meet half way any
concessions granted by the railroad eX-
ecutives The general impression, how
ever, was that the railroad would refuse
to comply with any of the demands
made.
A guarantee by the railroads that
they would abide by decisions OF
United States railroad labor board on
labor contracting is said to be one way
in which the strike could be delayed,
if not prevented.
The demands of the shop crafts or
ganization were contained in telegram
from Bert M. Jewell, president OF the
organization to r. Dewitt Cuyler, New
York, chairman of the Association of
Railroad Executives. The demands
were that the arrangements ignore the
recent labor board order authorizing
a $60,000,000 cut in the annual pay of
shOpmen; that the arrangements restore
certain working rules eliminated by
the labor board and that certain roads
abandon the practice of contracting
certain labor.