The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-20
CGLE LEAVES WASHINGTON AND
PRESIDENT HAS NOT DETER
MINED ON a NEW PEACE
MOVE.
OPERATORS BELIEVE THAT WITH
GOVERNMENT HELP THEY
CAN cOMPlETELY'eREAK
STRIKE.
MINERS CONTEND THAT NOT
ENOUGH MEN CAN BE INDUCED
..---- TO RETURN TO OPERATE
MINES.
U. M. W. CONFIDENT THAT BE.
FORE PEACE COMES DEMAND
WILL INSURE THEM HIGHER
PAY.
sy DAVID LAWRENCE


Copyright by The Intelligencer)
Washington. July 1s-AlI hope OF
an immediate ending OF the coal strike
has vanished today. A. NJ. Ogle, head
OF the National Coal association, has
left Washington. and President Hard
ing. while cognizant OF the various
Informal overtures which have eman-
sted from the miners, Is not yet de-
termined upon any peace move,
The operators believe that with the
help of the government they can
break the strike and deal unionism
body blow. Until they are convinced
OF the accuracy or inaccuracy OF their
predictions, nothing tangible can be
expected In the way OF peace negotia'
tions.
Just as confident as the opel ators
have been that II troops were to pro-
tect strikebreakers the mines could be
operated. are the union officials that
not enough coal would be mined 70
avert a dangerous crisis for the ma
tons winter.
State Laws Favor Claim.
In support OF the miners contention
news has already come from Indiana
and Illinois that state laws will pre-
vent the opening Of the mines on big
scale. Workmen have TO be licensed
before they can work in mines. This
measure was originally taken to safe
guard the health of employees and to
insure the safety Of those already
working in the mines. State boards
consisting mostly of union men, must
issue the licenses, and in some in
stances a continued residence In the
state is required.
IN the face OF this situation little
hope is entertained that Indiana and
illinois can mine much coal. The real
fight will come In Pennsylvania and
Ohio. John L. Lewis, head OF the
miners union. is sure that the miners
ic Pennsylvania will refuse to go back
VITO work-hs insists that they will be
aggravated at the mere sight OF
troops,
Unless the mine operators can PEI
suade enough miners TO go back Ia
work materially to Increase the fuel
supply OF the nation. the joint effort
OF the government and the operators
TO break the strike will be failure
The miners officials sit sereneiy by
absolutely sure that the operators will
not be able to mine enough coal. This
; would force a revival Of peace neEotia
tions. The general estimate Is now
that two weeks will tell the story.
The Miners Hope.
And when the miners and operator:
get together again the nations avail
able coal supply will have been so tal
depleted that the operators will bt
assured OF a high enough price fo'
coal next winter and they will be able
70 pay the miners better wages. The
inevitable result OF scarcity in any
product is higher price to the con
sumner. The strike has brought abou
the scarcity Miners and operator:
will each profit by the situation in IN,
end. and the public viii pay the bill
officials freely admit this. though the!
have already eudeavored to regulate
the price OF coal What the situation
will be next winter. however. Is an
other question. and there Is no way B,
which the government can keep tn
price Of coal down if the natural law!
OF supply and demand are permitted
70 operate.
Expect Congress TO Act.
Efforts to locate the responsioilit.
for the continuance Of the strike art
bound to be made when congress get!
into action. Senator Borah, Samue
Gompers and John L. Lewis are put
ting their heads together. The labo
viewpoint Is that Mr.. Harding ha!
fallen victim for the strategy o
certain operators. and that II he hat
insisted upon getting all the represer
tatiye operators OF the union district
10 Washington instead OF what i
termed a hand picked group" ChoseI
BY A VI. Ogle. president of the Na
tional Coal association, the deadlocI
wouldn't have occurred.
Charge Labor Politics.
Among the operators, on the othe
hand. one hears the charge that labo
politics Is at the bottom Of the troubl
and that John l.. Lewis. president o
the miners. depends for votes on EeeI
ing the wages the same In the cenEa
competitive Held. irrespective OF ect
nomic conditions. which the operator
say demands the opposite Of uniform
tty. Until Lewis hold on the union
broken, or until the operators sho'
signs Of breaking up, the early end
the strike may be said to be doubtful
Two days ago 1t looked as II ne'
~ h,y
dent Harding. He Is following ou
however, the plan OF using troops, a
the operators request. When that a
tentative is exhausted. a confereuc
OF the disputants Is inevitable.
arAl IlAnnnnn iAIllI