New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

sov rests largely with the President of
Tho United States.
The bituminous operators of western
pennsylvania. who now constitute the
forming point in the entire controversy
...r.en mine owners and workers, have
definitely and finally rejected govern
mental moral suasion. calling on them
II the interest Of the public welfare to
shids by clause in their present con-
tract making it obligatory that they
neet the miners prior to April / in an
ssort TO effect new agreement.
Existence Of this clause now stands
cst in bold relief as the most important
s,et in the situation, despite the con-
teusfon of the western Pennsylvania
ouefstors that they do not want to be
parties to another central competitive
ssld greement-which for years has
been the basis of all bituminous agree
merits in the country-and that, there
fore. their participation with the other
central field operators in meeting with
the miners would be "chicanery.' 1t
cannot be ignored, lodged or evaded
and, lest there be any doubt as to its
exact meaning it is here reprinted, as
follows:
Resolved, That an interstate joint
conference be held prior to April /,
1922. The time and place of holding
such meeting is referred to a commit
tee of two operators and two miners
from each state herein represented
fwestern Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana
and illinois,, together with the inter
national officers of the United Mine
Workers organization,
The miners not only have said re
psatedly that they stood ready at any
time to take part in the meeting in &C
eordance with this clause, but through
their president. John l.. Lewis, they
issued formal invitation to the oper-
stors that it be held. Thrice repeated
operators, two reflections from those of
southern Ohio and "left-handed accep
tsnces,' tantamount TO refusals, from
he operators of eastern Ohio, Indiana
and Pennsylvania have been the an
swers of the mine owners thus far.
Secretary Davis Urges
Conference to Avert Strike
at is the earnest desire OF Secretary
Davis that both miners and operators
carry out the spirit and intent of the
resolution,' the Department of Labor
appealed on Thursday to the operators
aEe cannot see why in the interest of
common sense the two sides cannot get
together and adjust their differences
and save the country from the costly
results Of q strike
Our decision has been reached, was
the renlv of the western Pennsylvania
cperators. owe will deal with our own
ren in western Pennsylvania, union or
ron-union. but we will not be party
IA q scale for Ohio, Indiana and llll-
mis- Our decision is irrevocable."
oIhe operators want strike while
the miners do not commented Presl-
cent Lewis of the miners. Interests
behind these companies are carrying
on e union busting campaign. They
know if they could destroy the United
Nine Workers they could destroy all
other labor unions
All the operators advance, along with
other contentious of defense for their
action, willingness to meet the miners
Of their own particular groups for the
purpose of negotiating for separate
state agreements. Obviously, as Lewis
contends, such an outcome would strike
at the very existence of the union.
Thus, with all chance Of voluntary
conference for an amicable adjustment
removed, and the attitude Of both sides
clearly defined, the main situation now
is rarrowed down to the question:
What is the government going to do
sbout it,
What the government will do will
~ Ae- SC-S OS-SIHiiH ~ olie@o 49,
dent Harding will do, and he has al
ready indicated that he regards the
stand the operators have taken with
anything but approval. Should develop
ments Of the next few days lead to a
belief on his part that the public vel
fare would be jeopardized by strike,
It is deemed likely that the operators
VIII hear from him personally, with
some pointed comments as to their re-
sponsbilitles in the matter.
emergency Powers of
resident May Force Issue
Then, if they still remain obdurate
K N their stand and choose further to
osfy all attempts at White House con-
eiAsfion, the President can, if he
cnoos-e, act under the emergency pow
ers he possesses, with a view to com
pellng the operators to sit down at a
table with the miners and discuss their
differences. This has been done be-
fore in the coal industry and it can be
done again.
One suggestion in this. connection
is that the President, with the CO
OPERATION of Congress, threatens to ap-
point a government commission with
sul powers to ascertain exactly how