The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-08-24

tain groups of operators, and the coal
mining controversy ended in the strike
of April l. 1t was instantly made ma
tion-wide.
at is to be noted that when the sus-
pension began large stocks of coal
were on hand. When these stocks on
hand began to reach such diminution
as to menace industry and hinder
transportation approximately June /,
overtures were initiated by the gov
eminent in the hope of expediting set
Element. None of these awaited. The
dominant groups among the operators
were insistent on having district agree
ments; the dominant mine workers
were demanding a nationwide settle
ment.
"A conference of the coal operators
associations and the general and dis
trict officials of the United Mine
Workers was called to meet in Wash
ington on July 1. The conference did
not develop even a hope.
Offered Nations Good Offices.
"Appraising correctly the hopeless
ness of the situation / again invited
both operators and workers to meet
with me, and rendered means Of set
tlementSso justly inspired that it was
difficult to see how any one believing
in industrial peace and justice to all
concerned could reject it. In sub
stance, it called \on the operators to
open their mines, on the mine workers
to resume work at the same pay and
under the same working conditions as
prevailed at the time the strike began.
In turn, the government was to create
at once coal commission, or two of
them, if preferred by all parties to the
dispute, so that one could deal with
the bituminous situation, the other
with the problems in the anthracite
field.
"The anthracite operators promptly
accepted the entire proposals. The.
mine workers refused to resume. work
under the arbitration plan, the ma
jority of the bituminous operators
filed an acceptance, but considerable
minority declined, the proposal. 4
No Authority to Demand.
"Under these circumstances no au-
thority to demand compliance, the gov
eminent had no other course than to
invite a resumption of production un-
der the rights of all parties to the
controversy with assurance of govern
ment protection of each and every one
in his lawful pursuits. But little or
no new production followed. The sim
pie but significant truth was revealed
that, except for such coal as comes
from the districts worked by nom
organized mines, the country is at the
mercy of The United Mine Workers.
"In the luminous coal fields are
vastly more mines and miners than
are requisite to the coutnry'sj needs.
Interrupted transportation sorely brok-
en- employment, the failure to develop
storage against enlarged demands and
inadequate carrying-all these present
problems bearing on righteous wage
adjustment, dem and constructive
solution.
"The necessity for such a search
ing national investigation is impera-
tive. At the moment the coal skies are
clearing, but unless we find cure
for the economic ills, which affect
the industry, we shall be faced with
like menacing situation again next
April l.
"The need for such investigation is
revealed in the provision in the Cleve-
land agreement so recently made.
have an unalterable conviction that no
worthwhile results will ensue unless
we may have government commits
sion, clothed with authority by the
Congress to search deeply, so that it
may advise as to fair wages and as
to conditions of labor and recommend
the enactment of laws to protect the
public in the future.
"The almost toal exhaustion of
stocks of coal, the crippled condition
of the railways, the distressed situa-
ton that that arisen, make it neces-
sary to ask you to consider at once
some form of temporary control of
distribution and prices.
Recommends National Agency.
"If it may have, your approval, l
recommend immediate provision for a
temporary national coal agency with
needed capital, to purchase, sell, and
distribute coal which is carried in
interstate shipment.
! "This proposal does not~felate to