Evening star., 1925-08-07
President and, Coal Strike.

According to some dispatches from
Swampscott, President Coolidge is pre-
pairing to adopt a rigorous policy TO
prevent disastrous suspension of the
anthracite mines. Other dispatches
declare that the President, while OBJ
serving the situation carefully, can do
nothing TO prevent d strike. and that
he has no plan looking TO such ac-
ton.
These conflicting reports. which vary
with the days as the end of August
and the time for the threatened coal
strike draw nearer, are bewilderinS to
the public. The plain truth Of the
matter is that the President has no
authority under the law 20 prevent a
coal strike, nor any power TO force
continued operation of the coal mines.
The laws OF the United States are
made by Congress, and Congress has
spent its time talking about coal
strikes, without taking the slightest
action, although the entire industry
u has been investigated by a commission
created by Congress and recommends
tions have been made TO that body.
An increase in the power of the Presl-
dent in time of emergency to take over
and operate the mines, il necessary,
was one of the recommendations.
Perhaps the people have tired of
looking to Congress. At all events
they are looking 10 the President to-
day to aid them in the event of q coal
strike. But it is only fair that the
situation should be clearly under
stood The President has no more
authority to deal with an anthracite
strike than he had two years ago
thanks again 10 Congress-when Il
strike actually occurred, and the Pres
ident did nothing about the matter ex-
cept through proper government
agencies to stimulate the production
of bituminous coal as a substitute for
anthracite and to provide for priority
of shipments of coal. That strike,
which lasted less than three weeks,
was settled when Gov. Pinchot of
. Pennsylvania, where the anthracite
mines are located, prevailed upon the
operators and the miners TO settle theii
differences with 10 per cent raise in
wages.
President Theodore Roosevelt, of
big-stick fame, was faced with d coal
strike problem twenty-three years ago.
That strike continued for many months
before both sides agreed to submit
the controversy to a commission ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt to
study the industry and make its rec
concentrations. Yet Roosevelt had
exactly the same powers in his time
that Coolidge has today to deal with
a coal strike.
The big stick in the hand of any
President is after all merely the sup
port of public opinion. If the public
is not back of the President his infiu-
ence in any crisis is comparatively
small. In the absence of law, the
force of public opinion, however, FIRE.
quently is enormous. The public to-
day is desirous above all to see that
the coal supply continues unchecked.
1t will back the President in any de-
mands he may make upon the oper-
ators and the miners.
But if a suspension of coal mining,
always serious in its nature, follows
ard the people are prevented from
having the fuel they need this Winter,
or are compelled to pay eXorbitantly
for it, Congress may no longer be able
to dodge this troublesome question.
Certainly there will be demand
ure be adopted to minimize the dan
ger of these periodically recurring coal
strikes with their attendant suffering.