, 1923-08-27

$3.50 49, 1872
the anthracite mines in operation.
I am acting now solely in my
capacity as governor of Ponnslyva-
mia. and with the rights and inter
ests OF tho people OF Pennsylvania
and OF the other anthracite.using
states. clearly IN mind.
This controversy between the
miners and the operators OF the an
| thrncite fields is not a private quar-
I rel.
The genera public is a party to
this controversy. and its rights. as
well as the rights OF the two other
parties, must be represented and
recognized. A shortage of anthrR-
cite means not n huge loss Of profits
to tho opcrators-not only a huge
loss of wages to the miners-but II
means also n loss of health among
millions of American families, loss
OF comfort. of working power. and
OF time.
Throughout the vast region where
II is used. anthracite is the fuel
burned in the homes OF the people.
A strike or suspension such as now
threatens is n public calamity and
rs such every reasonable public
means must be used to prevent 1t.
THE interest of the public mind
in the settlement of this controversy
is double. In the first place, the
public wants It settled. 1t Is utterly
wrong that the people should be
called upon again to bear the enor.
nous and most oppressive burden
of a shortage OF anthracite coal.
I'm the second place. the public
wants It settled on terms Of even
handed Justice. The right of tho
public to intervene carries with It
the clear responsibility to see that
impartial Justice is done to both
sides. In its desire to be served
the public cannot afford TO accept
any settlement that is based upon
anything lees than Justice. Further
more, an unjust settlement annot
last. The people believe, and are
right in believing that tho suffer
ings which come from one coal
shortage after another ara intoler-
able.
The country is just now entering
upon a period of prosperity after a
prolonged depression. The closing
down Of the anthracite mines would
tend to undermine the confidence es.
sential to a continuance OF this pros
perity.
Our railroads are heavily taxed
already. An uneven output OF coal
now much and now little-wiIl
tend to block transportation; and
tho blocking of transportation will
be almost as effective In making n
coal shortage as closing the mines.
The public has not forgotten, and
1 shall not forget. the rights and
interests of tho miners and the op.
orators. Each side represents a
great ana vital service to the public.
Moreover, zach side stands in the
presence OF a great and vitality i'm
portant duty to the people at large.
The public does o and cannot
see with your eyes and appreciate
with your experience the background
OF the present controversy. But
1t knows the essential facts. I ex.
press a truth none will deny when
I SAY that the anthracite consuming
people of the United States are los.
Ing patience. and I ask you to CON
slider that fact with care.
THE public interest demands that
this controversy shall be settled, and
that a suspension OF mining shall be
avoided. The thing is possible
and It must be done.
settlement that neither
side can get everything II would
like TO have. Few people ever do
in the world we live in. But the
settlement of this dispute is abso.
lutely necessary for the public safe
ty and welfare. The public need.
and u have coal. and I am en-.
TREY confident that the public IL
going to have It. It is my duty Ia
insure the public. by every lawful
means at my command, the neces.
sary supply OF coal.
II recognize the right of min.
workers to organize for their own
protection, and to fair and decen,
conditions OF living. ! am fulIy
aware that the strike ia a right
which should not be n~rbltraril,
abridged or denied. The exercIs,
OF this right. however, should b,
made Unnecessary by the use OF or
DERBY and reasonable methods OF ad
justment.
II recognize the right OF mine Cd
orators TO n Just return on tho In
vestment and their managerial abil
ity.
AS the representative OF the peo
pie of the commonwealth, I am her,
TO tell you that these rights are Il
be recognized and protected and tina,
tho public rights are to be recoR
nihed and protected also.
THE Roosevelt platform of fs1,
asserted that the public good come,
first Do not forget that the ptb
lie cannot look with Indifference,
upon unnecessary industrial con
fiet over private rights while IL sur,
fers in health. comfort and the very
essentials of life.
are at tho threshold of win
ter call your attention again Il
our duty to the public. yours as min
crs and operators. mine as ~executiv,
OF the only anthracite producing
state.
The eleventh hour ia upon us
the crisis has now been reached
We must do in this eleventh hon,
what should have been done before
II can be done and must ba done
There is stii time"
LONDON. Aug. a7-0fnciaI an.