The sun., 1917-10-18
If Wage Increase Asked
Raises Cost Too High
Government Will Act.
PRESIDENT TO DECIDE
Reduced Production Laid to
Car ShOrtagc-Men Not
Blameable.
MANY MINES SHUT DOWN
People Asked to BE More Care
full in Use of Fuel While
War Lasts. /
PRESIDENT TO DECIDE
MANY MINES SHUT DOWN
Special Dsspot-t 10 Tpy Srx

Special Despot-t IN THE Stx
WASHINGTON. Oct 17.--Wage increases
agreed upon by operators and miners at
conference here last week may prove
the nnal straw and force the Govern
nent to take over and operate the mines
Or. Harry A. Garfield Is now at work
| figuring the addition to the price Of coal
the wage demands will make II this
price is too high he declared tonight,
the Government will take steps to see
that the coal is produced" Dr. Garfield
indicated clearly that seizure of the
, mines by the Government was not the
only alternative under consideration
Despite the fact that coal miners in Illi-
no's have walked out waiting 70 .e.
whether the price to ne paid for coal 10
to be advanced by the Government to a
point covering the increased wages de-
inanded by them, which was the condi-
! tion under which 1t was granted, Or.
Garfield declared tonight he would not
he rushed into fixing the new coal price.
If IN the judgment of the President Il is
necessary TO make the coal price exorhi-
taht in order to cover the wage increases
demanded by the miners the Govern.
ment will take the matter into its own
hands.
Ir. Garncld expects to finish his cal.
| 'uiatlon or the advance in prices necea.
sarS 10 cover the wage increases de-
manded by the Government very shortly
! probably this week. He will then con.
fer with President Wilson. laying hcfor.
him the price of coal already fixed by
Proclamation and the addition to this
price which will he necessary to cover
the miners demands for more pay.
Ihe President will have the final word
IN determining whether the advanced
price ia unreasonable If II is adjudged
10 ne reasonable the strikes in Illinois
ana impending strikes elsewhere will be
settled by putting the now price scale
into effect
warns Operators aud Miners,
nr Garfield was ir>conrer.nce dur;r,
the day wiki John +. White. president
or the United Mine Workers of Amer
i'a' VINO reported that so far the strikes
/ IN ONO. Indiana, Illinois and Pennsyl.
NahIa were local in character though
'hey were threatening To spread. He
expressed the hope that the men could
De induced to return to work
Hi,er 'le conference br. Garfield sent
'eiesram 10 operators and miners
aHNe, giving notice that the Government
would deal most drastically with strikes
intended to force a decision on a re-
vision of Government prices to meet
wage increases
The telegram was as follows:
American citizens engaged in the
! mining of coal. whether operators or
miners, are for the most part mind
ful Of the fact that our country is at
} war and that thu burden rests upon
Them to produce the coal needed with
out interruption. But there are eyi.
den'ly some who fail TO understand
! the gravity Of the situation and who
/ 90 not hesitate to advocate strikes at
| IN" present time as a means OF fore
| !hs me Government to at once decide
whether tn. wage increase agreed 10
at the meeting recently held At Wash
'hSton ny the operators and miners
| or tho central district should Justly
he covered by an advance in the price
fixed by the President.
| The matter has been submitted 10
| me and all concerned are expected to
cooperate am giving immediate
and close attention to the question
| ana nope 10 reach a decision at an
early date. The only circumstance
within my control which will delay
that decision Will he the violation Of
The spirit of the arrangement between
the operators and miners, which was
mat under no circumstance should
the production Of coal in the United
states at the present time he allowed
! to diminish.
~ either the operators or the miners
attempt to bring pressure upon me to
reach decision | shall postpone II
| and use whatever powers are neres-
sary to compel the production OF coal
| to meet the countrys needs.
Indiana and Illinois Men Ont.
Mr.. White reported that consider.
able number OF men were on, in the
Springfield and Peoria districts, in
Franklin and Williamson counties, and
in the Beleville coal district of Illinois
In Indiana. he said. six mines we're idle
because the men demand wage Increases
and In the Bergholz district OF Ohio sew.
erai mines have shut down.
Under the recent agreement reached
al conference here between the opera-
tors and men a new wage scale granting
substantial increases was agreed upon
The operators first entered into the
agreement conditional upon an advance
in prices being allowed by the Govern
ment The Fuel Administration refused
TO consent To such an arrangement and
the operators, according To the admins
tration. finally agreed without that stip.
ulation.
The question Of allowing an increase
in price for coal produced is in the
hands OF a committee OF the Admini.tra-
ton. Fuel Administration officials say
the men now striking want the increased
wages to take effect Immediately instead
of a. the next pay period about No.
vemher |.
In n statement tonight IN Garfell
said the Fuel Administration and the
railroads arc eu"rGoticHllv working on
th" problem OF getting moro ears 10 the
mines and thai there iS every nopc thar
\ tn" coal shortage " ~ hc gradua'i' rene
drd. u" said ihaf whether tho In.
creased demand for coal viii be me. y,