Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-27
HARDING CONFERS
WITH MINER CHIEF
AT WHITE HOUSE
Status of Coal Strike Situa-
ton, However, Unchang-
ed by Parleys.
PRESIDENT SEEKING
PERMANENT PEACE
Coun,ry's Coal Supply Is De.
clared TO Be Dwindling
Rapidly.
LEWIS GIVES WORKERS., SIDE
Asserts Plan for Regional Adjust
ments Will Not Mce8 Needs
OF Industry.
LEWIS GIVES WORKERS SIDE
Asserts Plan for Regional ADJUST
mcnts VIII Not Mce8 Needs
OF Industry.
by Robert j. bender,
United News STAFF Correspondent


iact that Americas great coal re-
serves are being 80 rapidly depleted
that her Industries. including tho
railroads. will have wiped them out
within from seven to ten weeks. IL
preparing to terminate. IL possible,
the dangerous situation.
Perhaps no more dramatic distress
signal could be flown than that raised
by the railroads. revealing that on
Monday night their total stocks on
hand amounted to less than 7,o0o.-
600 tons. against which they are
drawing at the rate OF $4,000 tons
daily. and indicating that Within
seven weeks their reserves will bs
wiped out.
situation Becoming Acute.
y relatively acute situation faces
all other industries. which arc esti-
mated to have 1t their disposal now
only about 100000 tons in surplus.
stocks. with approximately 100000
tons of coal being mined weekly, the
drain on the surplus by all industries
has amounted to approximately
3.500o00 tons week throughout tho
strike.
In this situation the President be-
licves that not only must the threat
10 the Industrial life Of the nation he
terminated before it becomes actual
ly critical, but it must be approached
from the standpoint of striking at
the fundamentals to the end that its
recurrence Will be improbable it not
impossible.
Confers With Mine Leader.
Monday brought his first move to
meet the approaching crisis through
an extended conference with Sccre-
tary OF Labor Davis and President
John L. Lewis, OF the United Mine
Workers OF America. While some
consideration was given during this
conference to the possibility of
meeting between operators and min
ers with the government sitting in.
il was regarded as significant that
the President went moro into the
general situation OF the bituminous
industry. particularly with regard
to:
Overdevclopment OF the industry
with it's excessive number of mining
operations.
The excessive number OF men en-.
ployed. and.
The intermittency and inadeauacy
OF employment for miners.
The conference developed the fact
that the President is primarily CON
cerned With the question OF stabu-
izing the bituminous industry as
whole, In order that when rhe gov
ernment acts. it may put forth, for
the consideration OF miners and ope-
rators alike. measures to this end.
One suggestion advanced in this con
Ecction by member of the Cabinet
IS 10 achieve the end desired frst
by thorough congressional inyesti-
CATION. looking to the creation OF
Il government body functioning to-
wards mine operations as the Inter
state Commerce Commission does to-
wards railway operations. This idea
comprehends dividing the country into
sections permitting OF voluntary
combinations OF all coal operations
and elimination of many in given
regional districts. and the etrect,ns
of wage agreements by regional dis
trictS.
Give Reason for Objection.
To this idea. however. mine worker
ootcials voice objection primarily be-
cause they are opposed to govern
mcnt control. They insist upon the
following course:
The President TO set a date for a
Joint conference OF coal operators
and miners officials and notify rep
resentatives OF both that he will
expect them TO be present at the con-
ference.
This conference to sit until IL =
terminates the present situation.
Once the present strike is disposed
or Congress to pass legislation Great
ing a commission with full power TO
subpoena witnesses and records OF
investigation that will set down to
the fundamentals OF the whole prob
lem.
Following the conference between
the President. Davis and LOWS on
Monday. the White House was silent,
Lewis gave u brief digest OF the sub
jects under discussion, and Davis, who
was present while Lewis was speak
ing, approved the latter's remarks,
and would add nothing more
The only hing certain in tho
whole situation is that the govern.
mcnt IS preparing TO act, But thUx
far there has been sbaolutely no
hint from administration officlals ar
to what was contemplated beyond
the fact that round table confer
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