New Britain herald., 1925-08-06
PRESIDENTS OPPORTUNITY
 IN COAL STRIKE

IN COAL STRIKE President Coolidge Is reported l unlikely to take any action in con- nection with the coal deadlock un- til an actual strike materializes, as now seems likely on Sept 1, thus again displaying his characteristic trait not to cross a bridge until he has reached 1t.
 In the absence of special legal authority American presidents have been slow to take a hand in at tempting 10 adjust industrial dis putes. Some may be of the opinion that this is a disadvantage; yet it can scarcely be denied that the ef- fectiveness of a presidential effort usually has been greatly enhanced when such influence was reserved for use as a final resort.
 The last six presidents who were faced with coal strike difficulties from time 10 time, either attempted conciliatory intervention. which in- cluded investigations of the issues; wrote letters to either side urging settlement called contestants into conference. acting as mediator, or secured agreements to submit the issues to arbitration, Publicity has been strong factor in such efforts, including publicity of presidential moves, and publicity of the results of investigations. Governmental aC- ton has also included coercion, the threat 10 use federal troops, iniunC- lions, legislation, and threatening the investigation of matters which one or both contestants would pre- fer to conceal.
 On the whole, however, the Pres ident today has no more specific authority for dealing with a coal strike than President Roosevelt had in 1902. But Roosevelt m 1902 es- tabNshed the precedent of nterven- tion, for which he was widely criti' cized al the time, but which wa' later followed by Presidents Wilson and Harding and which probabl! would be followed hy President Coo lidge if a strike threatened serious consequences tO the public. Presi dent Roosevelt believed that a presl dent was not limited in his acts b, what Congr,ss or the Constitution specifically empowered him to dc but was limited only by the thing that were specifically forbidden, ] was later revealed that Presidon Roosevelt had planned 10 have tn government 'hroueh troops, seiz the mines had N= arbitration ef forts resulted in lsuure.
 Senator Borah m January 192. introduced a bill which include many of the rocommendattons the Coal Commission for rcgulatin tne anthracite industry and vestin power or r.guJenon in the Intel -tate Conmnru, Commission, an which in ras.s nf emergency wouI have givDu to tue President tf rowcr- granted 'ha chief cNccntl' ivy the r,-.r ar'. operative duril the war. which permitted takn nser the mmcs. tH wages and price 4nd fN ccn,veusafion 10 tho mil owners suuert n court rove' But Congress. seeing no rmergen' in the ofinz. did no more than ref the Rorsh bill 10 th, Committee interstate ,omm,r-.. and th're
 vas pt9.onhoted.
 rros.lor, CoolIg. nIsht
 ,rgrred to tako aggressive acfr r..aus. Of -he poHucoI aspira'o ot Goteruol Tluchot and Synat pcrrer ro,h of Iaansvhania Bo os thysc z.n'lom-r. especially [ former. 7r. known moi 70 be a verse to h1,ue a hand in "srtln ths coa. s'rke should ,t ma'm and 8s Mir Ptnchot is credited wi haung senatorial aspirations. a s.naror Pepper also Is Of an asp ing disposition in the accumalau o' rresug" lt is barely more 'h possible that the President will sit idly by wmle these two r"nns ,anians steal roliiical thunder
 the Whre House door sl'p.
 In days when rraIe unions W localized and labor conflicts affect only limited ar,as, there was
 special call for inter' ention by President n labor disputes. since lsaa strikes on q national
 district scale have threatened hal
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