The New York herald., 1922-07-19
TO GUARD MINERS
President Is for Pro-
tecting Any and All
Who Dig Coal for
Public Use.
STATE POLICE FIRST
Then National Guard, and,
These Failing, Federal
Forces Ready.
COMMON WELFARE ISSUE
Operators Will Have Every
Possible Chance to Produce
Coal at Once.
COMMON WELFARE ISSUE
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,


New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., July Is.
President Harding to-day called
upon the Governors Of all coal pro-
ducing States to cooperate in giving
the fullest protection to men who
wished to work in the coal mines.
This action was taken to give to the
ducing coal with any workers they
may be able to get. The President
wants them to have the fullest oppor-
tunity to make good on private opera
tions before the Government plants
the flag in the coal fields and begins
operations on its own account.
The Government will step in only
when every other resource has been
exhausted. The present effort is, how
ever it was officially stated, the last
line upon which the public rights will
be defended before the Government
undertakes to commander labor and
coal.
The President, 1t was officially stated
after the Cabinet meeting to-day. has
not determined how long a time the
new effort at private operation win be
given before he acts for the Govern
ment. Such a determination at this
time, 1t was stated, would be unjust
and unfair.
| The Government will keep a close
watch on the situation, however. Coal
stocks are running alarmIngly low, and
1t was stated by member of the Cabi-
net to-day that establishment of priority
distribution will be necessary in any
event before winter. This will be tried
on voluntary basis. II Government
requests are not obeyed coal stocks and
production will be commandeered.
waiting for Results.
Miners and operators are sitting tight
to-day and saying nothing. Both sides
are awaiting developments before maxi
| ing a further formaf statement.
Representatives Of the operators and
Of the miners for the most part have
left Washington. though A. NJ. Ogle.
president of the National Coal Associa-
ton. and John l.. Lewis president Of the
A definite line of protection has been
worked out by the War Department and
approved by the Cabinet The first
step is the appeal to the State Cover
rors and other authorities to-day to use
ali their powers. II State police and
municipal authorities cannot cope with
any situation calling out Of State troops
will be suggested. II the National
Guard fails. then the United States
army will step in. II It cannot cope
with the situation the army will be put
OIL war basis through the mastering
| In Of National Guard organizations and
possibly the calling of reservists.
President Harding's letter to the Gov
ernors of coal mining States reviewed
efforts toward a voluntary settlement
and asked the Governors to second the
invitation OF the President to resume
operations with the assurance Of every
possible safeguard.
TT is our duty" he said, ito guaran-
tee security and to protect the common
welfare"
Federal action will be predicated
upon interference with interstate COM
merce. This may come through halt
ing OF railroad operations through lack
of coal. through the crippling of indus
try or interference with the food supply
OF the people. The Presidents state
ment OF last night and his letter to the
Governors stressed the necessity OF in
terstate movement OF coal.
President Disappointed.
President Harding feels deeply the re-
fusal of the mine workers TO accept his
settlement proposal which was the pri-
mary cause Of failure Of voluntary
settlement The situation Is regarded
as so acute that the President will make
no comment outside OF formal official
statements. This was made clear at tho
White House press conference following
the Cabinet meeting to-day. The Cabi-
not passed It's time In the main in die
crsslon of the coal and railroad strikes.
Following the Cabinet meeting Secre-
taries Fall, Hoover and Davis held in
dividual conferences with the President.
but no statement was made regarding
them.
The manner IN which the President
views the situation was brought out in
an authoritative explanation from a
high Government official to-day. who
said the Government invited operators
and mine workers TO enter into an
agreement TO accept the establishments
OF a national coal commission and gave
expression to the few definite things
that were pressing for settlement
without undertaking or beginning 20
determine who was right as to terms
and working conditions. the President
assumed that the fair way TO proceed
was to resume operations under the
status quo at the time the men quit
their employment. II was expressly
stated that the commission first ot at
should undertake ~ dc'cfmlre a fair