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they want. They just want the government to do something. Anyhow, you and Mr. Ickes will have to hold them. You'll have to find out what it is and see what you can do.”

The mine owners had been told that we would settle it, that the President was turning the matter over to us. So we proceeded to hold a hearing. We didn't know how to start out. Neither Ickes nor I had ever held a hearing. We had only a moment to talk with each other backstage when we got to the hearing room.

I had met, some way or other, one or two of the men who represented the companies. Of course, they introduced themselves. We introduced each other. I introduced Mr. Ickes and he me. Ickes knew one of these people from Illinois. We had had no time to bone up on the situation and there was nothing to bone up on. We didn't know what they wanted. We just knew they wanted a hearing by the government and that we were to give it to them.

So we opened the hearing. I remember that Ickes said, “We have not been fully informed as to what your problem is. Miss Perkins is concerned about the labor situation. That's her duty. I'm concerned about the natural resources of the country. That's why we have been asked to hear this on behalf of the President. We would like to know, first, what your problem is, and, second, what you think ought to be done about it.”