Evening star., 1922-08-18
Says u. S. Power
Will Protect
Its Citizens.
NATIONAL COAL
AGENCY URGED
Esch.Cunnmins' Act
Held Powerless
In Decisions.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Harding announced to
congress and to the country today
that his administration, having ex-
iausted every means for settle
ment of the rail and coal strikes,
now was resolved ito use all the
power of the government to MANI
tain transportation and sustain the
right of men to work"
Accounting for his course during the
recent troubles in an address 10 tne
Senate and House. the President said
he did not propose to ask for any any
''hasty action by Congress In the
railroad strike. but that authority should
be given to set up commission 10
make a sweeping investigation into the
coal industry ito reveal every phase OF
coal production. sale and Distribution.
Ask Coal Agency.
As one measure in the coal situation
however, the President asked for the
creation of a temporary national coal
agency to purchase, sell and distribute
coal in interstate shipment as an in
strumentality of guarding the pubic IN
terest where private conscience Is IN
sensible to a public need"
Groups who take the law into their
own hands, the President said, and
attempt to control for their own pur-
poses the resources of the whole peo-
pie can only be regarded as pertls to
public safety. He said neither en-
ployers nor employees could entirely
escape responsibility for the present
Industrial situation, but he condemned
in particular the shocking crime at
Herrin, Ill.," and described recent
railway troubles as "a state of law
lessness shocking to every conception
of American law and order.
Views on Rail Strike.
Summing up his discussion Of the
rail strike. the President said:
TT is not my thought to ask Con-
Kress to deal with these fundamental
problems at this time.
"No hasty action would contribute to
the solution of the present critical stu
alton. There is existing law by which
10 settle the prevailing disputes. There
are statutes forbidding conspiracy to
hinder Interstate commerce. There are
laws to assure the highest possible
safety in railway service. 1t Is my
purpose to invoke these laws. civil and
criminal, against all offenders alike"
Though he pronounced the law Great
ing the Railway Labor Board as in
adequate, Mr.. Harding said that no
perfection of it by Congress at this
moment could be helpful in the present
threatened paralysis of transportation"
Discusses Herrin Massacre.
In his sharply worded discussion
of tho Herrin massacre the President
declared he felt "a pitiable sense of
federal Importance" but could not
~
cry of local inquiry and the failure
of Justice" which had resulted from
the efforts OF Illinois state officials.
A law giving the national govern
ment authority to protect aliens, he
said, would relieve some of the en-
protest of foreign governments that
their nationals suffered in the Herrin
"butchery."
THE bestowal of the jurisdiction
necessary to enable federal courts to
act appropriately" declared the Presi-
dent, will open the way to. punish
barbarity and butchery at Herrin, or
elsewhere, no matter in whose name
or for what purpose the insufferable
outrage Is committed"
Announcing his decision to invoke
all pertinent laws In the interest Of
Industrial restoration, the President
used carefully chosen language to
apply his structures to both employers
and employees.
Must Impress C0nGFess.
Surely" he said, "the threatening
conditions must impress the Congress
and the country that no body of men.
whether limited in numbers and re-
sponsible for railway management, or
powerful in numbers and the neces-
sary forces In railroad operation. shall
be permitted to choose a course which
so fmperiis public welfare. Neither
organizations of employers nor work.
ingmens unions may escape respon-
sibility. When related to a public
service, the mere fact Of organization
magnifies that responsibility and pub
lie interest transcends that of either
grouped capital or organized labor
At the same time, however, Mr..
Harding said, he had come to ap-
ent industrial situation which he held
tn some degree responsible for strikes.
Scores "Other Element
81 REFER" he said, "to the warfare
on the unions of labor. The govern
ment has no sympathy or approval
for this element of discord in the
ranks of industry. Any legislation in
the future must be as free from this
element of trouble making as it is
from labor extremists who strive for
class domination" -
Supporting his request for a tenn
porary national coal agency, Presi-
dent Harding warned Congress that,
although the "skies are clearing" In
the coal situation. a recurrence of
difficulty might be expected next
April, when wage contracts now
being made are to be renewed. unless
a cure were provided for the funda-
mental ills affecting the industry.
President Wins Generous
Applause in Plea for Law
and Order During Strikes
The Presidents announcement OF
his purpose to maintain order in
strikes and to protect workmen in
their rights was received with much
applause. He came to Congress, as
he announced at the outset of his ad-