Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-05
COOLIDGE PRESSED
F0RSTR|KE ACTION
Daily Mail Brings Many
Pleas for Anthracite
Peace Move.
By j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

rdlluTe OF anthracite miners and
operators to reach an agreement to
end the strike. and the continued cold
weather in those sections where there
is genuine pinch and considerable
suffering because of the fuel scarcity.
nave brought about increased pressure
Tor some action by President Coolidge.
The White House mail daily con
tainS many letters from individuals;
and groups, principally in the East
and Northeast. asking President Cool
idge to intervene. Few persons are
seeing the President personally re-
GardinG the coal problem He has made
I plain to those who have brought
the matter to his attention that there
is nothing he can do to force a settle
ment, and that he has no intention Of
inviting the diSputantS to come to
Washington and thresh out their diff
ferenceS. explaining that nothing prac-
teal could be accomplished by such a
course.
Asked Congress to Act.
President Coolidge repeatedly has
stated that he has recommended legis-
Iatt"n to Congress and that he pro
poses to continue his ''hands off -
policy. He has intended that to Suf-
iiCe.
The President has asked Congress
for legislation granting the Execu-
tive power to appoint temporary
boards. with authority 70 call for wit
nesses. documents and other data. en-
courage arbitration and issue priority
orders. Besides the Presidents rec
concentrations. he points to the elab-
crate report made to the President by
the United States Coal Commission two
wears ago, which contains numer-
Gus suggestions and recommendations
that could be used as the basis for
legislation. The President heartily
approves of this report and he has
made no secret of the fact that he
regrets that Congress has thus far
appeared so Indifferent to it.
Sees Strike as Failure.
To those with whom the President
has discussed the anthracite strike
lately he is represented as looking
upon the strike as an admitted fail
ure-that the public is on the eve OF
Wlnlng a great economic victory. He
has pointed out that Spring is only a
few weeks off. and he contends that
with the plentiful supply of soft coal
and other fuel substitutes there is no
reason for any one TO suffer
President Coolidge may he deriving
some satisfaction ont of his conviction
that the anthracite strike is failing,
'tInouSh not without some NnCOm-
Portable and frigid moments. but those
who know him Well doubt If he is
wholly satisfied with the present out.
look. There is no indication that he
intends to change his policy. however.
1t is cOntended by some critics of
the Presidents policy that he is not
only refusing to act in the matter.
hut that he is now refusing to receive
those who have suggestions to make
regarding possible settlement of the
strike or the regulation of future
strikes.
Yesterday afternoon the several
Democratic members Of the House
from New York asked Secretary
Sanders to make an appointment for
hem to see the President only to be
denied this audience.
Representative Summers was in
formed by Secretary Sanders that It
would be Impossible for Mr.. Coolidge
10 confer with the group at this time
considerable resentment was felt by
the group at what 1t termed an at
tempt on the part of the White House
10 shut off those having opposing
views to those of the President re-
Sarding the coal problem.
The White House. however. said
there was nothing personal in the re-
tusal and that almost daily some re-
quests for conferences with the Presi-
dent are refused because of INSULT
Cient time