The New York herald., 1922-07-23
INDIANA Will SEIZE
Mines in A CRISIS
Governor Hopes and Prays' 1t
Is Not Necessary, but
Stands Firm.
COAL OUTPUT FALLING
Production Is Expected to Set
New Low Record This
: Week.
COAL OUTPUT FALLING

INDIANAPOLIS, July 22 ASSOCIATED
Press) Gov. McCray to-day declared
that he could not believe that the
will of 10000 miners and a given
number of operators should be con-
sidered paramount to the interests of
the balance of the 100000 people
who constitute the State of Indiana" :"
The Governor made the declaration
In an exchange of correspondence
with Harold A. Henderson. general
counsel for District No. II. United
Mine Workers Of America, over the
possibility of proclaiming martial law
in connection with the operation of
coal mines.
Declaring that martial law would be
the last resort. the Governor added that
II 1t becomes necessary to mine coal
under arms 'in order to protect the
$4,000 unfortunate wards of the State,
for whose care and comfort the State is
responsible, 1t shall be done'
The Governors letter, sent to-day to
Mr.. Henderson. was in reply to a COM
munication of yesterday in which the
miners counsel declared that a ma
jority of the 10000 Indiana miners are
peaceful. that to proclaim martial law
would be ''of far more serious moment
than any issue growing out of or in
volved in the present coal strike.' and
urging that a proclamation Of martial
law would not only be usurpation of
executive authority but also tragic
mistake from the standpoint Of policy.
To Safeguard Public.
The Governors letter said in part {:
'As Chief Executive of Indiana I am
going to do my duty to see that the
rights of all people are safeguarded. II
believe in the right of labor to combine
and have the highest respect for unions
and the membership OF unions so long as
they conduct themselves properly.
have absolutely no respect for any union.
or any member of a union. who holds
that because they do not want to work
for any reason whatsoever no one
else may be permitted to take their
jobs. feel such a condition should not
be tolerated In free America. 1t is
perfectly proper for any person to quit
work IL not satisfied. The same right
to work should be accorded to individ-
uals who want to work. 1t is In defense
of this principle that / would give con-
sideration to the calling out OF troops"
After discussing the States duty to
furnish coal for the use of State insti-
tutions and expressing the belief that
the interests of the public are para
mount the Governor said:
II am doing everything | possibly
can to avert a crisis. / am hoping and
praying that the necessity will not
arise for drastic action l can assure
YOU. however. IL the time comes when
/ feel that the necessities of the case
demand 1t and / am supported by the
authority of the law / shall see to-it
that the rights OF the vast majority OF
the public are served"
The Governor made a move to-day to
end the strike. In so far as II affects
the Indiana coal fields. by inviting the
scale committees of both the miners
and the operators to meet with him
Tuesday In a joint conference.
Miners Leader Declines.
John Hessler, president of District
No. II of the miners union. sent reply
in which he declined to attend the meet
ing for the purpose outlined In the
Governors invitation. and stated that
the miners would not meet the operators
except ''in line with the New York
agreement for a four State conference"
Mr. Hessler said he would meet the
Governor to discuss the situation In the
Indiana field.
Phil II. Penna, secretary OF the IndiV
ana B!tuminous Coal Operators Asso-
citation, declared the operators would ''ac-
cept the invitation wholeheartedly and
without reservation"
Following replies from the operators
and miners Gov McCray would make
no comment on his next move In the
strike situation.