The Washington herald., 1922-07-21
URGES SUPPORT
OF PRESIDENTS
COAL PROGRAM
Chamber of Commerce
Head Asks Active Aid
From Members.
NAMES FOUR STEPS
Pledges Service of National
Body to Work With All
Organizations.
NAMES FOUR STEPS

Julius III. Barnes. president of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States. called upon all members Of
the organization by letter yester-
day to take active steps in support
of the program which President
Harding has urged upon the gov
erDcrs of the twenty-eight coal
States.
Efforts at national arbitration IN,
accordance with the proposal of
the President having failed, Mr..
Barnes points out that not only
law and order and the right of
every man to work where he
ple2ses without molestation must
Re sp4intained by States and local
authorities. backed up by the Fed
eral government. but the settle
ment of the underlying controversy
over wages and working conditions
is now in the hands of governors
and State authorities. Such settle
ments are imperative. he declares.
If the country is not to experience
suffering for lack of fuel when the
cold weather sets in and industries
are not to close down. thereby ere
atinS widespread unemployment.
Mr. Barnes Letter.
Mr. Barnes says in his letter:
For over three months produc-
tion of coal has been suspended in
fields. the output of which is essen
tiaI to the maintenance of the
country's activities and welfare.
throughout these three months
there has been opportunity for coal
operators and miners to arrive at
a settlement of wages and work.
ing conditions, but without result
The coal reserves of the country
have consequently been drawn
down until today they are fast ap-
preaching depletion. Inadequate
production will soon force the shut
down of important industries with
the inevita BILE train of unemploy-
ment and distress. Such situa--
ton cannot be contemplated with
out exhaustion of every effort TO
avert il.
The President recently rendered
to operators and miners a method
for solution of their controversies.
Although accepted by the anthra-
cite operators and by a majority
of the bituminous operators. this
solution was declined by the mine
worLers as a body.
Calls on Governors.
..Thereupon the President at once
called for a resumption of the pro-
duction of coal to meet the coun-
try's necessities. He has now
urged the governors of twenty
eight States in which coal is mined
to join with him in calling upon
operators and miners to begin
3 work. 1t behooves every citizen
and il is the duty of every organi-
zation of business men to uphold
the officials of their States and OF
their communities in accomplishing
the purposes declared by the Presi-
dent.
AS president of the national
chamber. am performing an
obvious public duty and a duty i'm
posed by the formal declarations
the members of the chamber have
hitherto made by urging your i'm
mediate consideration of these pos
sible steps:
Four steps Suggested.
"a. Appointing committee or
representative men of character and
energy to assume responsibility of
active service. in accordance with
the views of your organization.
both to preserve free and fair op-
portunity of employment for those
desiring to work either in produc-
tion or transportation and also to
readily support any effort leading
to a fair and permanent solution.
"b. Securing the expression of
your members views and cOnvic-
tions. especially on the question
raised by the President. of the right
of free men to work without in
timidation.
&c. Carrying those views to the
governor of your state and to local
officials with pledge of support in
providing adequate protection and
maintaining public order.
ID. Reporting to the National
Chamber. for presentation to the
appropriate Federal authorities. any
situation with which State and To-
cal officials cannot deal
b. "AlI organizations can be assured
that the national chamber is at
their service to place before the
appropriate Federal authorities any
situation with which State and To-