Show JOAL a CHAE A E AD fAITH T TO OWNERS Proposal of 0 Outside Jl ts ide Operators Arouses Ire of Pr President Lewis in New Wage Parley WASHINGTON Q Nov 15 W After a long and acrimonious acrimonious acrimonious acri acri- wrangle today representatives representatives s of the the- coal operators and miners in conference here agreed ee l to t take k up se settlement tle en of rage of-rage wage wage- ge and l labor bor conditions In tHe c central 1 comp competitive field after th they haar haa lIed to to agree agree on on a a. national scale e as first pr proposed posed Adjourning the general conference Secretary Wilson then summoned the wage scale committees o of the central competitive field to meet at p. p m. m today to negotiate a new wage agree agree- ment IN OUTSIDE DISTRICTS Operators from districts outside the central competitive field Will meet at atthe atthe atthe the same hour to determine whether the agreement arrived at by the wage seal committees of the central competitive competitive competitive com com- field will be accepted as a basis for contracts In the outlying outlying- districts President Lewis of the mine workers work work- ers inquired whether the agreement arrived at by the conference of the central compe competitive field wage scale committees would apply in basic form to outlying puttying districts and are our men In a position to return to work with that understanding The question was referred refereed to F. F W. W Lukens representing the operators but as he he said that he could only speak for the Western district and northern West Virginia Secretary Wilson asked all outlying operators operators' to meet separately at to formulate a reply to that question FOR ENTIRE NATION Secretary Green of the mine workers work work- ers demanded to know if telegrams of or invitation sent to the operators and the miners had not been an Invitation and Secretary Secretary Secretary Sec Sec- to a national conference Wilson Vilson replied that they were but that he would prefer the questioner questioner questioner ques ques- to draw his own deductions I 1 want to call your attention to the conference held with me mee ten tea days or two weeks ago said he I 1 then proposed that the wage scale Committees committees com com- committees in the central competitive field proceed to negotiate a wage wag I scale without reservation Th That t w was s sI accepted by the miners and by the I operators providing that the strike e order was w s' s withdrawn The withdrawal withdrawal with of that strike order has now been accomplished by the courts I 1 now now ask If youre you're ready to pr proceed proceed pro pro- on the basis of m my third proposition tion that of ot the central competitive field 1 ALL AGREE Representatives of miners and operators op- op operators operators op op- agre agreed d the miners reluctantly Again we agree gree to go forward on the plans laid for us by someone else President Lewis said We accept your proposition but in Gods God's name let us say we are tired of receding We Ve now look for consideration of the human souls that asked for bread and got a a. stone Weve Veve been told of the business necessities and the property rights and the requirements of owners of at industry and we want to get now into some court that will give some attention to the human rights involved in the demand for shorter hours more pay and better working conditions We Ve agree in the hope that this Is the way to such a tribunal ACCUSES OPERATORS Now I want to talk about something something something some some- thing else and that is the statements of the higher officers of this government government government govern govern- ment who have said they would not hesitate to enforce the tho law against others after atter enforcing it against men working in mines I 1 Want to call your our attention as a representative of this Continued on page 3 0 SON N URGES H AR nAY P U i lands ands Protection for the Public in Wage 3 Dispute unu from page 1 1 Mr Secretary to viola vlola- of he e law by the operators and se It If you will enforce It it itis Is read a telegram from Bir- Bir tam lam Ala mine workers which seems to have been a conc concerted iong ong the operators here to toe ie j i jen e men en returning to work under co rt order to give up their I IS and ind and renounce their union I Lions j I Il l eve In mind the Colorado Fuel j ron company In Colorado now g nto effect the same policy I resumed and refusing men I unless they sign away every I Jt citizenship f In the New River I of off f West Vest Virginia the men are areto to told d that they are returning to toy y without hout a contract and to be bet bew t w with th merely as Individuals I If If Iw f these operators are vio- vio Jany y provisions of ot the Lever LeverI I wonder if it the great ma- ma Iwonder ot of the government Is to be beI I against them when they vio vio- to law w. w c certain kin aln coal fields over oer the Unities Unit Unit- ies Lt a state of armed terror Is lined In the Ute Guyon Guon valley the Winchesters and sidearms and bruising and beating into into death workmen who whose only ils o endeavor to improve their io to Our voices are too feeble to Iress do you hear an any voices In half In the halls halis of or congress or bers of ot the government islet th e Clinchfield field in certain New Mexico Pennsylvania en this is going on on and I ti h representative of my people I which permits It do ng j Its duty to the people y g we uphold the majesty of eve given demonstration of e went Into our garden of ot mane and there we arrived at atc c Ion to obey the law But I Ithe Iw w hat the condition cannot long hen n workers are stifled and I who merely happen to own ownes m es can oppress and treadis tread is they hey h desire I say these dial dis- dis s l be stopped The armed st bo be stopped and I expect v ment to stop It IN GOOD FAITH fome come me In good faith in an aan hon- hon ld vor vor to reconcile ident dent Lewis said and you r tary representing the govI gov- gov I a plan pran which we wet wet t t because it Is the best u because the public c has been r e eks s th that t It is the tho plan the rs ors wanted wanted rge ge of ot bad faith comes Jar far poor grace from nit t workers Mr Lukens re re re- awhile the country Is tied up rike which the government delves es Ives a violation of their ts by the mine worl workers ers ave struck truck not only In districts three re was a possible question tang ling their agreement but they r k In districts where there t fk but that they had binding agreements STATEMENT E M ENT ny ny that statement President and I challenge tID tt of ot your assertion of Lets have your proof wo workers workers' presenta- presenta tives followed and Secretary Wilson called for order It is one thing to make make- a state or a a. district contract Mr Lukens continued and another and a more difficult thing to make a national agreement Tie people of ot the United States would freeze to death before a national wage scale agreement would be made as Mr Lewis well knows His statements are intended to cloud the Issue and hoodwink the public The operators are acting In good faith that is shown by the fa fact t tl the government is with them absolutely FOR FAIR PLAY Secretary Treasurer Green of the United Mine Workers was recognized You asked the United Mine 1 Workers Work Work- ers era some weeks ago to negotiate a wage scale covering the central competitive competitive competitive com com- field he said and they agreed The operators' operators answer to the same request was a refusal unless the strike was withdrawn Again we hear a refusal of the proposition made by you as a representative of ot the te federal eral government How long Is this situation to continue continue continue con con- The mine workers accepting every request of ot the federal government government government govern govern- ment and these men on the other side accepting nothing It Is unfair that one side of this controversy should shou be constantly Influenced to yield by coercion and moral pressure The question now is when will wUl the government tell the operators what they must do I FOR DECENT WAGE I The federal government h has s sI I dragged the workers' workers representatives I i into court and told them what to do I Green said Ev Every ry American is in interested interested in- in In the miners getting a decent decent decent de de- de- de cent cent American wage an and that thought should be uppermost In the minds of ot federal government nt officials If It it takes a 60 per cent Increase of ot wages the federal government should see that they get ItI It itI I take exception to the statement of ot the chairman that the demands of the miners are impossible Letts Lets not prejudice the miners' miners case before the public before we have gone Into conference I Our government h has s treated the miners unfairly I feel bitter in heart and soul regarding the the action the government has taken The miners have not been given a fair deal deat OPERATORS' OPERATORS SIDE D. D M M. Clark president of ot the Association Association Association As As- of Bituminous Coal Operators Operators Operators Oper Oper- in central Pennsylvania expressed expressed expressed ex ex- ex- ex pressed amazement at the charges of bad faith in the face tace of the walkout on November 1 in violation of contract contract con con- tract For many years said he the operators in central Pennsylvania had made contracts with the mine workers workers workers work work- ers in district No 2 which have in invariably invariably invariably in- in variably recognized the rights of organized organized organized or or- or- or labor and not In one single instance have the miners kept those I contracts Operators were ready to resume ne negotiations negotiations negotiations ne- ne he said on the basis suggested suggested suggested sug sug- by President Wilson and they would not ask the mine workers to resume work worle as a condition of resuming resuming ing negotiations MINERS AGREEABLE Acceptance without qualification by the mine workers of Secretary of ot Labor Labor Labor La La- bor Wilsons Wilson's proposal for negotiation of ot nationwide wage scale agreement was announced at the opening conference conference conference confer confer- ence by John L. L Lewis acting president president president dent of oY the United Mine Workers of ot America Speaking on behalf of operators outside outside outside out out- side the central competitive field FV F. F W. W Lukens president of ot the Southwestern Southwestern Southwestern South South- western Interstate Coal Operators' Operators as association association association as- as proposed returning to the old policy of ot allowing the basic scale to be negotiated by the operators and miners miners mi ml- mi- mi n ners rs in the central competitive fields PUBLIC INTEREST Because outlying operators are not organized Air Mr Lukens said that no notime notime notime time should be wasted but that public public public pub lic interest In an early settlement makes it desirable to continue as In Inthe inthe inthe the past Mr Lukens Lukens' statement immediately brought from Mr l Lewis a charge of ot bad faith CHARGES DAD BAD FAITH Charging that the operators In the outlying districts had led miners an and the public to believe that they were ready to negotiate with the miners Mr Lewis exclaimed Ye Yo Ye gods is there no more good faith left in man Are the mine workers workers work work- ers era of America to be the everlasting victims of bad faith on the part of ot the people with whom they have to deal EXPRESSES AMAZEMENT ENT After Atter announcing his acceptance of the secretary's suggestion Mr Lewis said I I want want to express my utter amazement amazement amazement amaze amaze- ment at the attitude of ot the coal operators operators operators opera opera- tors as stated by br their spokesman Mr Lukens If It there is any anyone one thing which has crystallized public sentiment sentiment sentiment senti senti- ment against the mine workers it h has s been the oft repeated cry that the oUtlying outlying outlying out oUt- lying operators had not been presented with demands by their workers although al although although al- al though they stood ready and willing to negotiate a wage scale READY TO NEGOTIATE We Ve stand here with spotless robes ready to negotiate a scale In the various various various va va- rious states outside the central competitive competitive com com- fields Mr r. r Lukens proposed to the governor of Missouri that they were ready to negotiate with the miners miners miners mi mi- mi- mi ners in Missouri but Governor Gardner Gardner Gardner Gard Gard- ner wired me in protest and the governors governors governors gov gov- of West Vest Virginia and other others s states tes have done likewise President Lewis sharply denied charges of ot bad faith over the coal strike stripe and the negotiations and ViI Wil liam Green treasurer secretary of ot the mine workers workers' union took exception to Secretary statement of Friday that a 60 GO per cent Increase In coal miners miners' miners miners' miners miners' mi mi- mi- mi ners' ners wages was impossible Green said that the federal government nt should see that the miners get that much Increase to allow them an American American American Ameri Ameri- can standard of ot living Declaring D that the Washington wage agreement still is legally in force Mr Wilson told the operators and miners that the people of the United States were not Shylocks and do not want to exact the technical provisions of a abond abond bond when the conditions under which I th the bond was made have changed He added that if any great change is made in the contracts the people of ot the United States are t the e ones who will have to pay and throughout his hi's re remarks remarks re- re marks emphasized the public interest in the coal settlement The three proposals expected to ai aid the two factions in arranging the new wage agreement were set forth by th the secretary as follows First negotiation through joint wage wag scale committee representing representing- all districts districts dis- dis second negotiation through concurrent sessions of committees es from the various districts and third negotiation negotiation negotiation first of ot an agreement Ih in th the central competitive fi field ld and then o ot f agreements for tor other fields with that tha of the central district as a basis PREVIOUS EFFORTS Reviewing previous negotiations a at Buffalo Philadelphia and Washington the secretary said the failure to reach an agreement had resulted in strikes strike not only in the central field but also in other fields where no demands had been made upon the operator Miners Miner in the outlying fields he added were not at fault because of ot their failure to present demands because it was well wel known that the miners had been willing willing willing will will- ing that all districts be represented ii in negotiating a wage scale and that all al objections had come from the operators operators operators opera opera- tors Above all said the secretary we weare weare weare are confronted with the fact that the great mass of ot people dependent on coa coaIn coal In their every day life are interested In reaching a settlement not only inthe In Inthe inthe the central coal fields but In all coa coal fields It is for that reason I have asked your meeting here FOR NEW DEAL I desire to recommend recommend that wage scale committees representative of ot althe all al the fields proceed to negotiate an ad ad- I want to point out to you that prompt action Is necessary As long as your were local Mocal local in character affecting only a small part of communities there was no disposition disposition tion to hurry you but when your dis dis- disputes disputes I tape take on a magnitude that affects the entire country then the |