Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-12
Mines to Produce
Within 10 Days
Under Plans.
COOLIDGE JUSTIFIED
is ATTITUDE HERE
Great Part of Credit Goes
to Labor Secretary for
Agreement.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


The anthracite strike has been
settled"
Secretary Davis Of the Depart
ment of Labor made this statement
at the department shortly before
noon today.
The coal strike as a political issue
fades into nothingness.
President Coolidges attitude, in
sisting that the strikers and opera
tors settle their differences them
selves, without any effort to sum-
mon them TO Washington, has been
justified, it was asserted in admins
tration circles today.
Coolidge luck" was the express
sion in other quarters.
Mines to Reopen Soon.
AS practical matter. however. il
may be 10 days before the mines are
actually turning out coal in quantities.
The machinery must he put in shape
after the long lay-off. The mules
must be taken into the mines and
the properties generally prepared for
operation.
On the face of the terms announced,
there should be no demand for in
creased prices of anthrac cite, II was
said. Much will depend. however on
the wage scale eventually agreed upon
One reason why President Coolidge
has set his face against any proposal
that he. as President of the United
States, intervene was the feeling that
if a negotiated agreement were reach
ed. providing for an increase in the
cost of production, the prices would
be raised to the consumers.
Credit goes to Secretary Davis OF
the Department of Labor In large
mea sure for the settlement of the
strike. He has worked hard with
miners and operators to bring about
an adjustment. He spent six days
within the last two weeks with
them and the conciliators Of the La.
Dor Department have been constantly
on the job.
Demanded Early Action.
While President Coolidge has in
sisted upon maintaining his attitude
Of hands Off so far as the White
House was concerned, II was learned
tanned permission OF the President to
exert to the full his efforts in bringing
the strike to a close. The Secretary.
II is understood went to the miners
and operators of the anthracite field
and said to them:
We are not going to bring you to
Washington, but you have got to get
together"
The President has kept In the back
ground. but has followed the matter
with the closest interest The plan
adopted Is represented az the result
of the work Of the Labor Department.
There was still some haziness here
as to just what method would be
followed In bringing about a settle
ment of the wage scale, If the miners
and operators fail to settle it them
selves. One suggestion is that an
impartial board would be called upon
for advice. but there would be no
arbitration Of this issue.
The names of former Secretary
Hughes of the State Department.
Gov. Pinchot of Pennsylvania and
Secretary Davis of the Department of
able selection for such duty
Labor Officials Busy.
The Secretary of Labor and the
department 2onciliators have been
ut some trouble in bringing about
the quiet conferences which finally
bore fruit. An incident came to light
today. The department was telephon-
ing wildly to find Hugh G. kerwin.
director OF mediation division of the
Labor Department. and James Dewey,
who were with John L. Lewis. presi-
dine of the miners union. 1t turned
out they had been held up for two
hours in a snowstorm travelling be-
tween Hazelton and PHILADELPHIA.
I'VE are all very happy" was the
comment OF Senator Copeland of New
York. Democrat, author of the resoIu-
ton adopted by the Senate last week
requesting the President to call the
miners and operators to Washington
to settle the strike. This settlement
only goes to show what the force of
public opinion can do when 1t is
awakened. Unquestionably the action
taken by the Senate was a deciding
factor"
Commends Davis Work.
Senator Copeland said that Secretary
Davis of the Department of Labor
was to be highly commended for his
efforts to bring the strike to an end.
ut Is fortunate that the disappear
ance or the acute condition makes it
possible for us to give serious
thought to some permanent solution
of the coal question. We have before
us the report of the Coal Commission.
We have the Oddie bill which re-
mains in cold storage at the Office of
the Secretary of Commerce. | trust
there will be heat enough created to
thaw it out and bring it before the
Senate.
Senator Borah is working on his
bill seeking to overcome <constitu-
tional objections to the, measure he
presented at the last session. Sem
ator Robinson's excellent bill is in
the hands of the committee. 1t is
dangerous 10 prophesy what Con-
gress will do, but l have no doubt
that within few days a bill will be
on the calendar which has in it the
hope of lasting cure of this recur-
ring disease.
1T remains to be seen if the supine
administration will give it the sup
port necessary to enact it into law.
There seems to be no desire on the
part of the administration to invite
controversy. OF necessity, any meas
ure to possess real merit must have
teeth. From many influential quar-
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