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Show Text of President Harding's Telegram to Governors on Reopening of Coa! Mines I WASHINGTON. July 19 The text of the president tHegram to the governors follows; "The propOMl of the federal government gov-ernment to the United Mine Workers and the various cos,l operators, whoee mlnep are under suspension, to submit ail questions in dispute to a national roal commission for arbitration, has been declined. The mine workers de-i de-i lined as a body The majority of j ths bituminous operator pledged unit un-it qualified acceptance The anthracite operators filed unconditional ac.ept-nnce, ac.ept-nnce, A minority of the bituminous operators accepted the, principle of arbitration, hul made specifications which could not he consldeied I had proposed that the operators and mine workers in dispute should lmmedl-H lmmedl-H ately resume coal production under the wage scales and working i ondl-tions ondl-tions which pn vailed at the time of the strike on last April i: tnal ever) question In dispute should ko to a nu-H nu-H tional commission lo be composed of three representatives of the mine H workers, three repre.rnt:itiv es of the operators and five representatives f the American people It was pro- H posed to mako the commission the H ttnal authority on all disputes until i i xt March and meanwhile the eom- H mission was to inaugurate a sea rch - ing inquiry into every phase of the coal Industry In order to recommend the wav to maintained understanding H between workmen and employers, to promote steadv employment and ns-sure ns-sure a continuous and ample fuel "The failure to secure (he accept-, ance of this proposal for a voluntary B adjustment loft me no other course H but to Invite the mine operators to return to their mines and resume m-I I trust you will tind it consistent H to second this invitation, if you have fl not alruadv done eo. with the tnvlt.i- ' lion to all miners and operators to resume their work. This inltatlon j should he ai'com p nlcd by such as- i 3urance of maintaining order and the protection of lawful i-ndcavor as will give assurance to everybody concern- H ed. I want to convey to you In this, message the assurance of the prompt and full support of the federal gov -ernment whenever and wherever you find your own agem-ies of law ahd or-dor or-dor Inadequate to meet the situation. "Your state srovcrnment and th4 federal government ore responsible for maintaining conditions under H which free men. willing to work, may work In safetv Wo arc responsible for the protection and the transport.! -tion of a fuel supply ample for the necessities of the American people and the nubile utllitli Whleh serve them, particularly the railways engaged en-gaged in inter.-tate commerce Wf must have ample coal to maintain in-dustrlal in-dustrlal activity; we must have the coal necessary to the health, security and the activity of all he people. I recite to you these details because It is Important to have It understood, how far the federal government has gone in seeking a voluntary adjust-ment adjust-ment Thus far there has been DO challenge of the right of workers to decline employment or the right of the employers to hire as the slecl "Our present duty Is to guarantee t-ecurlty in the exercise of these rights, security In all lawful opra-tlons opra-tlons and afford a safe opportunity for the production and "h.stribution demanded bv the necessltli Ol the American people. 'There has been nr. yovemmenl numptlon of a part In the dispute p -.'tween oryanlzed workers and organized organ-ized employers 1 did offer the onl.v j available airenev whleh I know U r-' feet a settlement and these good o!-flces o!-flces have not availed. "It becomes nM--nrv, Iherefire, in the name of common welfare, t- invite in-vite protection in the fulfillment 01 that obligation which attaches to in American industry engaged in pro-; h vldlng any public necessity and tot afford security to all men alike who are readv and willlncr to wlrk and I serve the common need. No cause Is so important as that of common welfare and thore must be the suppression sup-pression of every unlawful hindrance tu the service of that cause To the task of lawful protection and the I maintenance of order, the federal gov-! gov-! srnment pledge to you every assist nnce st lte command." |