Evening star., 1923-08-11
The President and Coal.

Calvin Coolidge starts today his real
work as President of the United
States. Ever since he took the oath
of Office in Vermont. upon the wired
announcement Of the death of Mr..
Harding, he has been engaged in the
mournful task of arranging and at
tending the funeral of his late chief
and friend. Now that those rites are
completed, he picks up the reins Of
Office and inaugurates his administra.
ton of the national affairs. His re-
sponsibility is heavy and. his trials
will be many and hard to bear. He
should and he doubtless will have the
stanch support Of all who put the
national welfare ahead of partisan.
ship.
Mr.. Coolidge enters upon his admin
istration with a particularly trying
problem ahead of him. That relates
to the nations supply of anthracite
fuel, which to many millions of peo-
pie is vital necessity. The contract
year, established upon the settlement
of the strike of 1922, expires at the
end of this present month. Confer
ences between the mine owners and
the miners representatives have led
to no agreement A difference which
mains regarding the question Of the
recognition Of the union through the
adoption of the "check.off" system,
whereby the employer collects the
union dues from all operatives.
Twenty days from now if that ques-
ton is not settled and new contract
written work in the mines will sus-
pend and the production Of anthracite
will cease. With all the stock on
hand, in storage, at distribution points
will remain a heavy deficit, from
which millions Of people will suffer
severely during the coming winter.
Prevention of the threatened strike
Is an imperative public necessity. The
Federal Fuel Commission has no
power to act effectively. The Presi-
dent of the United States has no
actual direct power to compel the op-
GRAFTON of the mines. But he has a
great moral power, and at this hour
Of Mr.. Coolidges entrance upon his
task the country Is looking to him
to exercise that power and to bring
about, if possible, an adjustment that
will insure the continuous mining of
anthracite and the supply Of the peo-
pies needs this winter.
Mr.. Coolidge is versed In the law
and, of course. knows the limitations
of his authority in the premises. But
he may be relied upon to recognize
the public's need and the danger of
widespread suffering and perhaps
many deaths from lack of fuel during
the cold months and to do his utmost
to prevent this disaster. He may see
his way to direct intervention. He
may find it possible to summon the
representatives Of the two sides, as
demand of them, in the name Of the
nation, that they find a way to keep
the mines in operation. He may, in
the event of failure to secure pledges
from them of continued production,
summon Congress in extra session, in
season to act, giving authority for
governmental operation of the mines
pending the re-establishment of indus.
trial peace. There Is time for such
a summons and such action if the
occasion demands.
The public necessity is SO acute that
extraordinary measures are requisite.
The responsibility for the crisis does
not now rest upon the President The
nation prays and believes that if the
menace is not quickly removed he
will not finch from accepting it and
acting to the limit of his authority
. to the end Of preventing a disaster.