The Washington times., 1923-08-23
Administration Ready
To Take Relief Action
If Strike MateriaIizes
BY KENNETH CLARK.
International News Service.

International News Service.
The Federal government has &C
cepted the challenge thrown down
by the operators and miners of the
anthracite coal fields.
Quietly but forcefulIy, President
Coolidge today put into motion ali
agencies at his command to speed
mp plans for assuring the country
an adequate supply Of fuel this
winter.
Ready to Act.
Regardless of what is done by
the opposing groups at Atlantic
City and whether or not q new
wage scale Ia established to prevent
a strike September I, the Admins
tration Is prepared at a moments
notice to launch a far-flung organi.
Zation to distribute fuel TO all
regions which would be distressed
by cessation Of mining operations
at the end Of the month.
The President feels that the time
for liberation OF delay in the strike
situation is rapidly drawing to a
close; that with only nine days
left before John L. Lewis. president
Of the United Mine Workers,
threatens to call the men out Of
the mines. definite material assur-
ances must be given that no serious
fuel shortage win result.
Government Desires Assurances.
Officials here expressed the be.
Lief that the Administration has
been extremely tolerant to both
sides I'm the perennial struggle. be-
tween operators and miners. This
is not now, however, IL was said.
the occasion for any more promises
or threats; that what the country
wants Is q guarantee OF q fuel
supply, and that 1t Is the fTnmedi.
ate duty Of the Administration to
I'LL this need.
It was this situation which
prompted President Coolidge 70
order r. r. Wadleigh. Federal fuel
distributor, to issue a call for n
meeting Of governors Of hard coal
consuming States in New Yorx
next Tuesday. Governors Of Della
ware, Maryland, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire.
New Jersey, New York. Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island, Vermont. and
the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia, were invited to partici.
pate or send representatives.
Situation Called Critical.
wadleigh plans to hold this meet.
ing even though the operators and
miners, by some unexpected move,
should happen to settle upon a new
wage contract today, or tomorrow,
or before next Tuesday.
So critically IL the situation
viewed here that 1t was declared
~ be the Presidents belief that
the Administration must be ready
for any contingency. and for the
moment. the operators miners dis
pute will be forgotten in the efforts
tn get the substitute distribution
plan in smoothest working order.
The basis Of the distribution
Plan. that 81, the part which will
be handled by the Federal gov
eminent through the fuel distribu.
tor and the Interstate Commerce
Commission, already has been de-
termined upon. Wadleigh, under
the plan, would have charge of
making available for instant deliv.
cry the supplies Of substitutes. bi.
tumionus. coke and fuel oil, large
stocks OF all being already on nand.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion would issue priority orders 50
that coal shipments, given prefer.
ence on railroads, could be expe-
dited to those sections hardest hit
by a tie-up.
To make more certain that there
shalt be no hardships. President
Coolidge wants the State execu.
tives to cooperate fully with Fed.
eral agencies. That Is the purpose
of the New York meeting.
Wadleigh, at President Coolidge's
direction, will tell the State lead
ers he wants them to set up in.
dividual distribution agencies, in all
large cities and in every county
II that is necessary. Then at Fed
eral direction the substitutes can be
pro-rated to States and distribution
can be handled by local authorities
who are more conversant with
hoped, through accurate daily re
ports to Washington. to prevent an
over-supply to one State and g
privation supply to another.
In a general way this is the man
ner in which the Administration
has accepted the challenge OF
operators and miners who have SAID
that the next move is up to Wash
1ngton."
Another powerful weapon which
the Administration may produce fl
the report OF the United States
coal commission fixing the blam,
for the anthracite imbroglio. This
while virtually completed. has beer
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