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Show E COIflCT PBttHFIM Coal Operators and Miners Yet Unable to Reach Agreement. BUFFALO, N. Y. , Sept. 30. The fourth day of the wage conference between operators oper-ators and miners of the central soft coal field began with none of the vital questions ques-tions solved, and wilh the strike of 400,000 miners on November 1 still a possibility. Both sides expressed hope that common ground would be found for an amica.ble adjustment of disputed questions, including includ-ing the status of the war-time contract of 1SU6, which the operators claim is binding- until April, 1820, and which the miners say ceased to be in force wilh ,the withdrawal with-drawal of the United States army from Europe. The issue raised over the war-time contract con-tract was brought squarely before the joint conference this morning by Acting President Lewis of the miners, who moved that it be terminated on October 31 of this year. The operators offered an amendment amend-ment fixing the lime of expiration as April 1, 1920. The resolution and amendment were debated de-bated throughout the morning session. A slatement was issued by the executive execu-tive of the miners intended "to refute the claims of the operators that the miners' committee is not tully empowered to negotiate nego-tiate with the operators. Both amendment and original resolution resolu-tion in regard to tho termination of tho war-time wago agreement were voted l down. j Tho conference then adjourned. |