Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-01
Harding Warns
of Stern Steps
Continued from PAGE One

and since this country has afforded you
the opportunity Of development on your
part both as workers and operators.
You have created. in turn, an obliga-
ton TO serve.
"Conficting views as 70 your poll
cics and your obligations to one another
in no wis. modify your obligations to
that public which made possible your
industrial existence.
"Becausr Of expiring agreements re-
lating 10 wage scales and working con-
ditiOns larg" percentage of the mining
activities Of the country have been sus-
pended three months to day.
Does Not Discuss Issues
''lr i not for me TO touch upon the
merits of your opposing positions.
have not called YOU as partisan Of
he mine worker or the employer. do
not mean even TO discuss single phase
Of controvcrtol questions. The main
point is I" bring YOU together and IN
that contact of men to men. mindful
Of the nocc' Sity Of righteousness IN any
uScfui and abiding relationship, to have
YOU frankly and fairly consider your
problems in their relation to the welfare
of our common country.
1T IL pretty generally recognized
that there are fundamental difi"UItic.
in present. day coal production. the So
lUciion Of which is not to be found IN
an hour or day OF most friendly and
earnest conference. The excess develop
mrnr Of Il producing capacity. in boz h
tonnage available and miners to work
il has presented one situation demand =
ing solution, or there will be inevitable
| loss OF property interests ana train
| Of unpr0iitHbl" employment.
"Thc war uphcaynl and all attending
mutations and excess productions have
left an inevitable and unavoidable hlui-
dation. The in'ermi,tcncc in employ
nent has made 1t impossible for mine
workers, who are only employed partial
time, to pursue their trade at wage
rates adjusted 10 other employments.
No industry il soundly based, no Amer
lean activity can be held secure. where
employment - compensated on II base
Of half-tim" or two-thirds of the nor
NAL natural work period Of an Amer
lean wage Garner.
Instability Of Production
'"rhere has been instability Of pro,
ductiOn. attended by II failure Of de-
livery capacity. which had reflex in
speculative prices and panicky condi :
tiOns, which encouraged prOftepring
and menaCcd our industries and ham
percd our varied public services.
Labor has tho right. capital has tn,
right, and, above all else the America
public has the right to be freed from
thcs" recurring anxleties, no matter
what the causes are, That freedom
must be established.
'Thc Government has no desire tc
ntrude itself into the field of your ac.
tivitics II does feel an obligation tc
see that tho common American iniercs,
shall not be nenaccd by protractc,
lack Of fuel, II prefers that the two
great and associated inlercsts---min,
workers and employ ers- should settle
this matter in II frank recognition o,
the mutually OF your interests. If you
cannot do that. then the larger public
interest must bc asserted in the nam'
Of the people. whore the common goo,
Is the first and highest concern.
~ have said that the Fundamental
problems probably cannot be solved IL
q hurried conference. But this confer
ence might well devise the agency To-
y sascting = solution> This u the puspos'