Show I 1 DENY lEWIS LEIS COAL CHARGES Rockefeller Claims In Infamous Infamous Infamous famous Conspiracy Does Not Exist NEW YORK TORK July Jul On GP 2 VP On behalf of ot the Consolidation Coal company of which he Is III a 11 stock stock- stockholder stockholder holder John D D. D Rockefeller Jr Wednesday made public cor cor- correspondence correspondence correspondence stating staling th the company's denial of o the charge of ot John L L. LLewis L. L Lewis president of ot the United Mine ne Workers of ot America that an Infamous conspiracy exists among soft coal operators to de de- destroy destroy stroy the tho union by b abrogating the wage walle agreement between operators end and miners In reply to a letter from Mr fr Rockefeller asking for tor the facts In the case former United States Senator C C. W W. Watson chairman ot of the board of directors director ot of the tho coal company compan sent nt Mr Rockefeller ler a 0 record of correspondence with Mr Lewis setting forth the following Intentions FORCED CLOSE That the company was forced to close Its West nest ut Virginia mines be because be be- because cause under the wage wa e agreement It could not produce coal except at a a. loss That hat all other companies which accepted this agreement have been forced to close and almost the en- en entire tire tir output In West Virginia Is controlled by union non-union mines That the miners forced to work In union non mines or remain idle ha bate ha e by b the thousands deserted the unions and the wage agree agree- agreement ment That the miners forced to work In union non-union mines or remain Idl idle have lave by the thousands deserted I the unions union and the wage agree agree- agreement ment That under these conditions the agreement being a collective one I Is ts already destroyed In his letter Mr tr Watson atson writes write to Mr tr Rockefeller A A state of ot widespread suffer suffer- suffering suffering ing Inc due to Idle mines and idle I men did not dl disturb the officers officer of the United 1 Mine Workers noi not was an any criticism forthcoming on that score ore On the contrary they bate ha e a. Insisted that the consolida consolida- consolidation tion coal company compan should continue to enforce by b the duress of un- un unemployment em employment conditions of ot work ork and und wages ages which the union unable to maintain has been o over Its members In other words It ItI has seemed to be Mr Lewis' Lewis con con- contention contention that either our men should I work vork under conditions of his choice or they must not be bo al- al allowed allowed lowed to work at all 1111 |