Arizona republican., 1919-12-23
PUBLIC |S COAT IN WILSON COAL AGREEMENT PLAN CLAIMS SENATOR. Probe Committee Chairman
 Believes Secret Pact Made By U. s. Predicts Higher Coal Vital Principle Of Strike
 Ignored In Final
 Settlement
lHepubIican A. P. Leased wirel

lRepubiican A. P. Leased Wirel
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Enter-
 ing into the controversy raging
 about the governments proposals
 for settlement of the coal strike,
 Senator FreIinghuysen, republican,
 New Jersey, chairman of the sen
 ate committee Investigating the
 coal situation, in a formal state
 ment tonight, declared that in the
 governments negoations there
 must have been some sort of
 secret deal made in addition to the
 signed statement"
 Explaining that he spoke for
 himself only and not for other
 members of his committee, Sen
 ator FreIinghuysen reviewed the
 testimony adduced by the commit
 tee hearings to date and added that
 out of the settlement of the strike
 '.In any event the public may look
 for an increase in the price of coal
 or another strike"
 Dice Loaded Against ruplic
 The New Jersey senator character lzed the settlement proposition as put forth by Attorney General Palmer and accepted by the miners "as a loaded dice for the American public" The executive committee of coal mine operators, following their state ment of yesterday declaring that the governments proposal finally drafted was vitally different from the plan formulated by former Fuel Ad- ministrator Garfield and which they bound themselves to accept, main- tained silence today
 The operators. however. decided during the day, to call off d meeting of the scale committee of the central competitive field. which had been called for Tuesday in Cleveland -1- he conference. which will take place after Christmas. it was said. the ope- ators expect to formulate a deceion as to the policy they will adopt to- wards the governments plan and the commission appointed Saturday by President Wilson to adjudicate the miners claims.
 Attorney General Palmer, in a state ment tonight. denied the assertions made yesterday by the operators whose position he characterized as the merest bubble and quite unworthy of the representatives of a great indus .ry'
 said, fr0m the beginning had been cIamoring for arbitration and had stated repeatedly their willingness to conform to anys plan which the presf- dent might suggest
 Their allegation now. continued Mir. Palmer, that they were not con- suited about the form of the memoran
 
 CTS conference. is absurd
 Was Related Objection
 The settlement proposal. as ac cepted by the miners, the attorney general further declared. was sub- mitted to representatives of the op- orators in Indianapolis, who in turn communicated it to their representa- tives in Washington.
 No objection was made added Mir. Palmer. The operators remained ab- solutely silent until after tke men were back Tn the mines. Then for the first time they began to object.
 "The miners went back to work in obedience to the law and the orders of the court without having their de- mands granted. They relied, as they had a right to do. upon the promise of the president that upon a complete re- sumption of operations a committee would be appointed to take up the mat ernment had an equal right to rely upon the good faith of the operators in their previous declarations of agree ment with this program The govern ment will not assume that the oper- stors will break faith. and. indeed, ways will be found to keep faith in this vitally important transaction. The commission will proceed with it's work and I have no doubt than upon further reflection the operators will see the wisdom of hearty cooperation with it."
 Praises Garfield Stand
 Praising the stand taken by Dr. H. A Garfield, who recently resigned as fuel because of a disagree ment with the strike settlement, Sem ator Frelinghuysen said:
 "The present stand, which incurred the hostility of Dr. Garfield and -aused his resignation. is acceptable to the miners because it opens the door to further demands and further wage increases, which the public must pay.
 The miners are expecting an addi- tional raise as a result of this agree ment Chairman Lewis, in his address to his men. December 10, 1919. speaks of the probability of further increase in all classifications of labor when the commission finally makes it's award
 There must have been some secret deal made. in addition to the signed agreement. In any event, the public may look for 4~n increase in the price of coal. or another strike
 There was a vital principle involved in this contest. and that was ignored i'm the settlement of this strike. namely, shall the law be supreme or shall an. a class, hold itself above he law and refuse obedience thereto, when it's selfish interests come in con- fIict with the public good2
 tcontinued on Page Two)