The Credit

The surmise that a mild case of political jealousy had arisen between Governor Pinchot and President Coolidge over who should have credit for the settlement of the anthracite strike was apparently confirmed. The President sent the Governor a message of congratulation on the conclusion of the strike. Governor Pinchot did not publish the message. It was presumed by the ever-suspicious press that Governor Pinchot had wished to claim the settlement as his sole achievement, but that the President's message inferentially suggested cooeperation in the result.

Six days after the message was despatched Governor Pinchot made it public. Its first words were:

" Please accept my heartiest congratulations on the settlement of the coal controversy. It was a difficult situation in which I invited your cooperation."

Governor Pinchot explained how he happened to make the message public at that late date:

"Having received word today from Mr. Slemp that the President expected me to make public his telegram of congratulations, I do so with pleasure. . . ."