The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-23
Considering Substitute For Coal, While Injunction To Prevent Walk Out Is De- bated By Officials
GOVERNORS OF II STATES INVITED TO ATTEND MEET
Meanwhile, Government Is Doing Nothing Towards Bringing Operators And Miners To A Settlement
Ny THOMAS L. STOKES

WASHINGTON, August 22.-Leav- ing the anthracite miners and opera tors in their deadlock. the govern ment has formulated a douhle-bar- reled program to provide the public with fuel thls winter.
 l. A conference of representatives sent by the governors of anthracite consuming states to consider substi- tute fuels and their distribution.
 ?. A possible injunction to prevent anthracite miners from striking.
 Invitations were sent to the gover- nors of II states Wednesday by Fed eral Fuel Distributor Wadleigh at the instance of President Coolidge for meeting in New York. August 2S, which is just three days before the old wage agreement expires.
 The action followed a day of con? ferences and deliberation by govern ment officials. Both Wadleigh and Commissioner Aitchison of the inter- state commerce commission, who formulated priority orders for move ment of coal last year, spent some time with Coolidge. Wadleigh later conferred with Secretary of Com merce Hoover.
 That the government Is consider ing the possibility of an anti-strike Injunction was learned Wednesday on high authority. Special agents of the department of justice have been at Scranton studying the possibility of such action. Due to the experience with the railroad injunction last year and the storm 1t would stir among labor leaders, President Coolidge would go slow in this respect
 snbstitrte Fuei Iaadequate.
 However, some doubt exists here as to whether the substitute fuel plan will adequately meet the needs or entirely satisfy New England, where such a howl was raised last year as a result of the strike and the subsequent difficulty in moving coal. Use of substitutes would mean wide changes in furnace systems, as one official pointed out, and also involves transportation problem which would be more serious at this time of the year with peak loads of other freight.
 As was also pointed out, long, continued strike in the anthracite fields would ruin many operators, as the introduction of substitute fuels would reduce the markets in large measure. The people could do with out anthracite one official stated through necessity. Its use has al- ready been curtailed in some sections of the country, where freight rates are prohibitive.
 Meanwhile, the government is do- Ing nothing further toward bringing miners and operators to a settlement. President Coolidge has given no in- dication of what course he will take next. Members of the coal commis- sion have maintained that they will interfere no further until the strike actually takes place.
 We are through as far as wage negotiations are concerned" Ham, mond said Wednesday,
 Commission To Fix Blame.
 The commission, however, spent Wednesday going over the records Of the Atlantic City conference, prepar- atory to making full report to the President, fixing the blame. The members of the commission and the President hope that the report will focus public sentiment on the re- sponsible parties, and force a settle ment, Hammond said Wednesday, though it would be several days be- fore the report is submitted.
 The conference in New York will also be attended by representatives of the railroads and a member of the interstate commerce commission. It will consider principally the supply of coal at various points, as well as the distribution of information to the public as to the use of substitute fuels.
 There are now about 75,OooocO tons of bituminous coal above ground, Wadleigh told the President with production running now about 10,500,000 tons a week. The anthra. cite stocks in the hands Of consumers total about 25,000,000 tons