Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-15
PRESIDENT PUSHES
COAL PEACE PLANS
ON RAIL Law LINES
Pressure Put on Operators to
Adopt Mediationld Idea
approved by Miners.
WILL DEMAND FEDERAL
CONTROL lF MOVE FAILS
Main Opposition to It Seen in Some
Owners Belief They Are
Getting Whip Hand.
BIZ j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
STAR Correspondent of The Star.

4 -
WHITE PINE CAMP, NJ. r. July
16.--It has been disclosed here that
oyertures on behalf of the administra.
ton will be made to coal operators
and miners in an attempt to have
them agree on Truce and plan for
settling differences such as is en-
bodied in the recently enacted Wat
son-Parker railroad labor act.
The President Is understood to have
beer very, recently advised that the
coal miners, eager for industrial
peace. who have been assured that
their differences with the mine own
ors and operators can be amicably
settled under the auspices of a gov
0rnmental agency such as Is created
by the Watson Parker act, are ready
to discuss terms. The only hitch
known to exist at this time is the
divided opinion among the mine oper-
ators as to just what should be done.
Coolidge for Proposal.
on more than one occasion when
the Watson-Parker railroad bill was
pursuing Its course at the Capitol, dur
ing the last session, President Cool
idge made known. his approval of the
general principles, involved and ex-
pressed the hope that the means Of
settling disputes and differences be-
tween employers and employees made
possible under the terms OF this act
could be applied to other industries.
Reports received since the President
came to the mountains are to the ef.
feet that the principal obstacle in the
way Of bringing the anthracite coal
operators and miners together on such
an idea as is advanced in the watson
Parker act is the attitude assumed by
some Of the larger operators. The lat.
ter are said to be holding out on the
Ground that IL present conditions OBJ
tain only q little while longer the btu
min0us fields will have advanced so far
toward Oyerthrowing the union sway
n the coal fields OF the country that
there need not. in the immediate fu.
ture, be any fear of the consequences
Ct another coal strike
Some Operators Ballx.
Because OF this the nori-uniDn coal
Operator6--And 1t Is In the soft coal
neld that the possibility Of the next
coal strike arises, because the Jackson
vile agreement expires next Spring--
are opposed TO any sort Of meddling
or interference on the part Of the Fed
eral Government. Reports indicate
that they fear It would retard. IL not
completely upset, the present trend.
which they contend is SiistinctIy IN
their favor. They are apprehensive,
also, because the majority Of the min
ers themselves are so eager for ap-
plying the plan to the coal industry.
The President Is represented as be-
ing not at all discouraged by reports
OF the opposition to the plan on the
part Of many of the operators. He Is
hopeful that they will come around
by the time the matter Is brought up
in Congress next session. He recalls
that when the Watson-Parker bill was
under discussion the executives Of the
railroads were not unanimous, but the
Objectors were in the minority and
lacked sufficient weight to defeat the
passage of the legislation.
Alternative to Plan.
The President is known to be hoping
that the example set by the railroads
and the railroad brotherhoods in
agreeing to the principles of arbitra.
ton, mediation and conciliation as
provided in the Watson-Parlker bill
will eventually serve to influence and
inspire the coal industry to follow.
He believes that such an agreement
on the part of the operators and
miners would stabilize the coal indus.
try and would be great step forward
in promoting Industrial peace
II attempts on the part of agents
Of the Government fail to bring the
operators and miners together on this
proposal nothing remains for the ad-a
ininistration to do but put its full
force back of coal legislation along,
the lines recommended by the Presi-
dent and as recommended by John
Hays Hammond's fact finding COM
mission, which already have been In
dorsed by President Coolidge.