Evening star., 1925-10-24
A Plea for Fuel.


A grand jury in the borough of the
Bronx. New York, has formally adopt
ed resolution addressed to the Presl-
dent of the United States asking him
to take such steps as will bring about
an immediate and peaceable settle
ment between the anthracite operators
and miners This resolution is based
upon an investigation just conducted
which shows that a "distressful con-
dition ha. arisen. and that unless inn
mediate steps are taken TO ADJUST the
present strike untold misery and SUI
fering will befau many poor families
in our country"
There can be no question Of the
urgency Of the matter. The supplies
If hard coal the chief domestic fuel in
the Eastern United States, are rapidly
becoming exhausted. Prices are rising
as proflteers add constantly TO the
rates for small quantities. Severe
weather is certain soon to be expert
anced. The poor, who cannot buy IN
advance or in large quantities, are al
ready hard hit by the rates. and many
Of them are suffering from lack OF
sufficient heat in their homes.
But what can the President of the
United States do? There is no law
under which he can act definitely TO
end the strike. He has no specific
power of intervention. lie has no au-
rhority to take over the mines as a
public utility in the name of the Gov
ernment and TO operate them for the
immediate production of coal. If he
were to intervene as did President
Roosevelt in October, 1902, when a
hard-coal strike had lasted for six
months, it could be only TO the extent
Of seeking to effect a settlement by
persu4 sion.
Twenty-tflree wears ago the case
was quite different from the present
situation. The strike had, as stated.
heen in progress for half a year, cover
ing the period of full production at
the mines and minimum demand and
use. There were no reserves. Inc
aster. Everybody felt the pinch of
The shortage of fuel. Public feeling
on the subject was at the keenest
point Had the negotiations for settle
ment which the President instituted
failed a national emergency would
nave been present. warrantinS, even
demanding, an extra session OF Con-
Gress and extraordinary legislation TO
permit Government operation of the
mines.
That juncture has not been reach ed.
The point of acute emergency has
not arisen. There is still coal enough
To keep the people warm for several
weeks 10 come, if it is judiciously and
impartially distributed. The profiteer-
irC in the retailing of this supply is
wicked and should be punished. If the
law can be stretched TO reach the Of
tenders. But as for the opposing forces
In the anthracite field there is vet no
overwhelming force of public Senti!
ment sufficient to compel them to
yield in their stubbornness and agree
upon some sort of working arrange
ment permitting the production Of the
necessary fuel. Until that point is
p reached even presidential intervention,
which amounts merely 10 the applica
tion of influential pressure for "a set.
nement, is likely 10 be ineffective.
Therein lies the essential evil of the
situation, that it must become in.
tolerablY bad before it can be cured
In few weeks, when the tempera
tures drop to the point of acute dis
'ress for millions in the absence of
sufficient heating material. the OBJ
stinacy Of the workers and the own.
ers in holding stubbornly TO their re-
apectlve contentious in the dispute
Will become cause for a public out
break Of anger which will compel
quick settlement. The pity is that
there is no way TO reach an agreement
before that time.