The Holly chieftain., 1922-08-31

rOAL miners and operators of I'LL
~ nois reached an agreement on the
lines of that adopted at Cleveland,
the men winning all their contentious.
Production was resumed at once, but
In that state as elsewhere. and as was
to be expected, the profiteers also
resumed and prices began to climb,
to the dismay of the consumers.
From various sources protests against
this reached the authorities in Wash
ington. Congress, having been urged
to action by President Harding
showed 1t was alive to the situation.
The house took up the administration
bill for a coal commission reported
from the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce and speedily passed
1t. only reducing the salaries of the
commissioners from $4,000 to $500
and the appropriation for its expenses
from S500,0O0 to 100000. In accord
ance with the desire of the Presi-
dent, the bill prohibits the appoint
ment of any operator or miner as n
member. In the senate a similar bill
introduced by Senator Borah was
passed. and the two measures went
to conference for adjustment of the
small differences.
Negotiations for the settlement of
| the anthracite strike were broken off,
their failure seeming to be complete.
| Official statements indicated that the
| duration Of a contract and the sub
mission to arbitration of any differ
ences we're the stumbling blocks that
| could not be overcome by the negotia-
tors. Representatives of the mine
workers Insisted upon contract at
the old wage rate, to extend to April
l, 1924, while the operators would
not agree to continuation Of the
old scale longer than next April.
The miners maintained their stand
against arbitration.
John SHANK, secretary of the
y trades and labor assembly of Sioux
City, Ia, is authority for the state
ment that plans are maturing for n
general nationwide strike Of organ
lied labor. He says various union
1 uhNo Sdfleu Uu llt
executive council of the American
Federation Of Labor to call such a
strike. Probably this need not be
feared while the more conservative
element remains in control of the
council. However, the activities of
the Reds and radicals are increasing.
Last week those chronic disturbers
hTlx l..
Berrien county, Michigan. Federal
and state agents Of Justice watched
them a few days and then made a
raid. The radicals had been warned,
however and only II were caught.
William 2. Foster. one of their lead
ers, was arrested In Chicago. Much
Red propaganda was seized and the
officers said they had broken up n
huge plot to foment violence in con-
nection with the railroad strike.
Michigan's syndicalism law, which
has never before been used, was in
voked against the prisoners. 1t was
said other radicals would be arrested,
among them Rose Pastor Stokes. Ac-
cording to the raiders, the propaganda
seized In Michigan included PAM
phlets advocating the overthrow of the
| government and the establishment of
soviet regime.
G ENATORS who are opposed to the
~ soldiers bonus seemed to have
given up hope last week, or else they
merely were in hurry to get through
with the bill and 20 home. Anyhow,
they were so supine that the senate
broke Its speed records In adopting
the finance committee amendments
and taking up consideration of indi-
the measure would be passed within n
few days was conceded, and Senator
McCumber said he did not believe
the President would veto 1t, since the
conditions that caused Mr.. Harding
and Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon
to seek delay last year have been
met. Mr.. McCumber placed emphasis
on the points that the annual outlay
for payment of the bonus has been
reduced to such figure that the mr.
gument of the inability of the treasury
to bear the strain no longer holds
good, and that the financial condition
of the government and the country Is
quite capable of wlthstandIng the bur
den which the bonus will impose.
THE administration ship subsidy
1 bill will not be considered fur
ther by congress until the December
session. This delay has been urged
by the Republican leaders. and now
President Harding in letter to Rep
] resentative Mondell has given his