Evening star., 1922-08-18
LAW MUST RULE In STRIKE,
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS;
RAIL CONFERENCE AGAIN FAILS
TEXT Of PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
TO CONGRESS ON STRIKE CRISIS

to the rate of wage to be paio
for the period ending next April
1, and then to enter upon fact
finding inquiry into every phase
of the industry and point the way
to avoid future suspensions In pro-
duction. The disputants all In
dorsed the suggestion of a fact-
finding commission. The anthra-
cite operators promptly accepted
the entire proposal The mine
workers refused to resume work
under the arbitration plan. The
majority of the bituminous oper-
ators filed an acceptance, but
considerable minority declined the
the proposal.
Mine Workers Refuse.
Under these circumstances, hav-
ing no authority to demand COM
pliance, the government had no
other course than to invite a re-
sumption Of production under the
rights of all parties to the contro-
versy, with assurance Of govern
ment protection of each and every
one in his lawful pursuits. This
fact was communicated to the gov
ernors of all coal-producing states,
and. with two, exceptions, assur-
ances Of maintained law and order
were promptly given. In some in
stances concrete proof of effective
readiness to protect all men.
strikers and non-striking work.
men alike. was promptly given.
But little or no new production
followed. The simple but signif-
cant truth was revealed that, ex-
cept for such coal as comes from
the districts worked by non-or-
ganized miners, the country is at
the mercy of the United Mine
Workers.
Governors in various states re-
ported that their operators and
miners had no dispute and were
eager to resume production. Dis
trict leaders informed me that
their workmen were anxious to
return to their jobs, but that they
were not permitted to do so. Hun
dreds Of wives Of workmen have
addressed the White House, be-
seeching a settlement. alleging
that they knew no grievance. and
there is an unending story of ap-
peals for relief where necessity
or suffering were impelling. where
a mere expression Of need ought
to find ready compliance.
Government Remains Neutral.
At every stage the government
has been a just neutral regarding
wage scales and working con-
tracts. There are fundamental
evils in our present system of
producing and distribution, which
make the wage problem difficult.
In the bituminous coal fields are
vastly more mines than are requi-
site to the country's needs, and
there are 100000 more mine work.
ers than are needed to produce
in continuous employment the
country's normal requirements.
BY continuous employment I
mean approximately 28O working
days In the year. In many in
stances last year men were en-
ployed less than $50 days-in some
cases much fewer than that. In
the overmanned sections men di-
vide the working time, and high
wages are necessary to meet the
cost of the barest living. Inter-
rupted transportation, sorely
broken employment, the failure
to develop storage against en-
larged demands and inadequate
carrying-all these present prob
lens bearing on righteous wage
adjustment, and demand con-
structive solution
Because of these things, because
of the Impressions of many cases
of unjustifable profits In the in
dustry, and because public inter-
est demands investigation, and
demands the findings of facts be
given to the public, am asking
at your hands the authority to
create a commission to make a
searching investigation into the
whole coal industry, with pro-
vision for its lawful activities
and the bestowal Of authority
to reveal every phase of coal
production, sale, and distribu-
tion. I am speaking now on be-
half Of the mine workers, mine
operators and the American pub
lie. 1t will bring protection to
all and point the way to con-
tinuity of production and the bet
ter economic functioning of the
industry in the future.
The necessity for such a search
ing national investigation with
constructive recommendation Is
imperative. At the moment the
coal skies are clearing, but un-
less we find a cure for the econ
omic ills which affect the indus
try and therein find a basis for
righteous relationship. we shall
be faced with a like menacing
situation on next April 1 on the
expiration of the wage contracts
which are now being made.
GOvernment Agency. Essential.
The need for such investigation
and independent consideration is
revealed by both operators and
mine workers in the provision in
the Cleveland agreement SO re-
Gently made. The government will
gladly cooperate with the indus
try in this program SO far as 1t
is the public interest so TO do, but
have an unalterable conviction
that no lasting satisfaction or
worthwhile results will ensue un-
less we may have q government
commission, Independent of the in