Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-18
FIRST EFFORTS
 TO AVERT COAL
 STRIKE FAILURE
Full Scale Committee Called by Secretary of Labor
 Wilson.
LEWIS NOT HOPEFUL
 OF AN AGREEMENT
Says There Will Be No Settlement Unless "StOnewalF' Attitude Un- dergOes Change-Operators
 Name Conditions.

Name Conditions. Washington, Oct. 17.-Failing aft CT an all-day conference to avert a strike of nearly half a million bitu- minous coal miners, called for No- ivember 1, Secretary of Labor Wilson tonight invited miners and operators to send their full scale committees to Washington next Tuesday, when an- other effort to bring about peace ir the industry will be made. Both sides accepted the invitation This did not offer any great hope, however, for representative of the operators stood firm in their deter imitation not to negotiate any de- mand for six-hour day, and not to order was called off.
 John l.. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Workers of Ameri. ca, showed that he was laboring un- der terrible strain when he left the three-cornered meeting. Speak ing to a group of reporters, he said he told Secretary Wilson that the 32 members of his wage scale com mittee would be here Tuesday to meet with an equal number from the other side, but it would be useless to reconvene the joint interstate wage conference, "unless the operators changed their stonewall attitude" and indicated a willingness to frame another agreement.
 Thomas T. Brewster, chairman of the coal operators of the central competitive coal fields, which em- braces the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, aft CT sitting through the day at table with Secretary Wilson and MT. Lew is, hurried away from the secretary's office and refused to talk. An hour or two later he sent word to MT. Wilson that his scale committee would be on hand for the joint con- ference.
 Operators Conditions.
 At the outset Secretary Wilson, sitting between Lewis and Brewster. urged them to resume negotiations, and reconvene the joint wage confer ence. pointing out that he was mak- ing this effort by direction of the presidents cabinet. Lewis indi- SNCSu CHC EIOuHuS OH WHICH Clic mln- CTS would negotiate, and after a re- cess Brewster returned with writ ten statement outlining the condi- tions under which the operators would do the same.
 These were:
 Indication of a willingness on the part of the miners to carry out the existing contract. which former Fuel Administrator Garfield "attests is still in effect"
 Resembling of the strike order and continuation of work pending nego- tiations; and.
 Understanding that the negotia- tions does not contemplate any re- duction in the hours of labor below the present standard of eight hours day. six days a week.
 On the heels of this, Brewster's statement. addressed to Secretary Wilson. sharply attacked collective barraining, saving in conclusions:
 Our experience teaches us that n, set of employers should agree to a system of collective bargaining which does not make both parties to the contract equally liable and re- sponsible for the observance of the terms of such contract"
 Apparently finding that no head way could be made in dealing only with Brewster and Lewis, Secretary Wilson then suggested meeting of the GA members of the miners and onerators scale committee. The in- vitation was reduced to writing and MT. Wilson stated that he realized the difficulties to be overcome before the men who onerate the mines and the men who dig out the coal could get together.
 Miners Obdurate.
 "The impending labor dispute and nossible strike in the bituminous coal fields is of vital importance to all oi the people," MT. Wilson said. "As the executive officer of the government intrusted with the function of med iation in such disputes. I feel that nothing should he left undone that may give hope of an amicable adjust ment of the differences existing be- tween the operators and miners.
 T realize the difficulties to be
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