Evening star., 1922-08-14

Warning of Disaster.
At this meeting, it became known
today Senator Pepper read a letter
from President Harding in which
the President declared that further
delay in the resumption of mining
would mean danger of nothing short
of nationwide disaster"
The President said that no time
was to be lost in getting the men
back in the mines and that II mining
was resumed at once once ,,s5nss fns fq1nse Sse
necessarily be serious. But. II there
is any further delay we shall be in
danger of nothing short OF nation
wide disaster"
President Harding suggested that
the operators take the men back at
the wage scale in effect on March
81. 1922, when the suspension began.
until a commission or other agency
has had an opportunity to examine
into the whole situation
"Actunted by President"
Mr. Warriner. in his telegram to
Mr.. Lewis, said that the operators
had been moved to extend the invi-
tation for a conference, mot merely
by our own desires. but because the
president of the United States has
communicated an expression both of
his wish that we should do so and
of his hope that you will accept"
e\' he telegram said:
S>On behalf of the anthracite oper-
ators, l extend to you a cordial invi-
1ation to meet US in conference with
a view to an early resumption of
production in the anthracite field. 1
suggest Philadelphia as a suitable
place for conference, and August Is
AS a convenient time.
"Our conception of the conference
is that we should meet for the
friendly discussion of the whole sit
Iation. including such specific pro-
posals as either of us may desire to
submit. We are glad, however, to
express in advance our confident ex-
pectation that We can devise in con-
ference a method of wage adjust
lnent, such that upon our agreeing
10 it we shall be able then to take
the men back at the old wage scale
until such adjustment actually takes
place.
Let me assure you that our invi-
tation is sent without any underlying
reservations or conditions, and in
full assurance that when we meet
we can work out a result at once
protective of the public interest and
satisfactory to the mine workers. We
bespeak your acceptance in the same
spirit"
Plea of President.
President Harding's letter to Sena-
tor Pepper follows:
II am told that Mr.. Lewis has in
dicated willingness to confer at once
with the anthracite operators in case
they invite him to do so. l suggest
to you, as the senator from the state
r
operators will be acting in the public
interest If they promptly send him a
cordial invitation to attend a con-
ference to be called by them at such
time and place as they may choose,
with a view to the immediate resump-
tion of production in the anthracite
fields. I feel justified in making this
suggestion because these operators
have manifested throughout a spirit of
cooperation with the administration
in seeking a fair basis upon which to
adjust the anthracite strike.
II understand that as basis of
conference Mr.. Lewis stipulates for a
scale and the acceptance by the op-
orators of the so-called Shamokin
proposals. In extending their invita-
tion ] hope the operators will indi-
cate a Willingness to take the men
back at the old scale until q commits
,portunity to examine into the whole
situation. As to the Shamokin pro-
posals, I am hopeful that Mr.. Lewis
will regard them as proper for con-
sideration Of the conference rather
than subjects of commitment in adj
vance. am hopeful Of this because l
credit both operators and miners with
a sincere desire to resume anthracite
production, and I am sure that neither
will place any unnecessary obsta-
Gle in the way of their adjustment.
"As to the time, / hope that the
conference will take place in the i'm
mediate future. ~
mo time is to be lost. Even II pro-
duetion is resumed at once, the future
consequences Of past delays must