Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-12-06
SATURDAY,. DECEMBER 6, 1917
MINERS LEADERS REFUSE THE
ARBITRATION PROPOSAL.


ARBITRATION PROPOSAL.
Operators Notify Dr. Garfield OF
Acceptance OF Ills Oncr. !.
says He Will Not BE Responsible for
Disturbance Which May Follow.
Fuel Administrator Says Government
Will Keep Orucr-May Mean FEEDER.
al Opera ion.
Washington, Nov. q The confer
once between the coal miners and the
operators broke up today without
reaching any settlement Of tho wage
controversy.
The miners unanimously rejected
the government proposal, made by
DR.. Garfield at the direction OF the
Cabinet for ii per cent wage in
crease without increasing tho price
of coal.
This rejection was made after the
operators had announced that they
would accept the governments suggcs
ton for settlement.
The operators also notified IDr.
Garfield Of their acceptance but point
ed out that to increase wages with
out increasing the selling price would
eliminate the profits Of a largo mum
Der OF mines, and seriously affect pro
dsction.
They said they would rely upon tho
government to make latter ndjusL-
ments in prices to remedy this.
MINERS REFUSE ARBITRATION.
The operators then renewed their
ofler OF submitting tho dispute to q
board of arbitr ration but this was TO
fused by the miners. On motion Of
tho miners the coal conference was
adjourned sino die.
The miners said that they were
going home to 'sit tight. While sew
eTal of the operators expressed q
hope that something might yet be
done to renew negotiations, nothing
could he found In the situation to-
night to justify this sanguine view.
The breaking up of tho conference
puts the coal situation directly up to
the government in n more serious way
than ever. 1t is now n matter for the
consideration OF the Cabinet which
will meet again tomorrow.
GARFIELD HAS NOTHING TO ADD
United States Fuel Administrator
7 Garfield said tonight that he had
nothing to add to the statement he
made last night when he laid the
government, proposals before the OPP
orators and the miners. DR.. Garfield
said he would DO here tomorrow,
which means that he will be avail
able Mt the Cabinet meeting.
Secretary OF Labor Wilson whose
proposition that the miners should
have been offered raise OF SIG per
cent was turned down by his fellow
Cabinet officers said tonight that he
had no comment. to make on tho fail
ure OF the coal conference to reach
settlement.
John l.. Lewis president OF the
United Mine Workers said after the
conference ended:
In my judgment DR.. Garfield and
the Cabinet have committed the
most colossal blunder in the industrial
HISTORY OF our nation. They are blind
~ following an academic theory
without regard to justice to the
mine workers or the effects of such
theory upon the people Of The coun-
Try"
LEWIS MAKES NO FORECAST.
Mr.. Lewis said that the action of
The government pfec.uded any posi-
bllity oil negotiations between the
operators ana the m.ne workers. He
would make no sta emcnt as TO wheth
or the 2rescn, strike would contin
ne TO be effective.
Asked as TO What would now hap
pen in the outlying districts Mr..
LOWS said:
Il cannot be responsible for any
further disturbances which this pol
icy Of the government may bring"
When DR.. Garfield was told OF this
he said:
The government will keep order.
Various representatives Of the min
era expressed the opinion that tho
miners who are now out would not
return to work until settlement la
reached