Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-15
ATTITUDE OF EACH
SIDE IS DECLARED
ALIKE IMPOSSIBLE
Three Plans Proposed as
Basis for Settling Coal
Difficulties.
NEW CLASHES THREATEN
OVER AGREEMENTS SCOPE
Nonunion Miners Recognition
Issue Which Is Causing
Discussion.
MAY PROTRACT CONFERENCE
Indications Are That Washington
Gathering Will BE in Session
for Several Weeks.
NEW CLASHES THREATEN
OVER AGREEMENTS SCOPE
MAY PRoTRACT CONFERENCE
Indications Are That Washington
Gathering Will Be In Session
for Several Weeks.

coal miners for a thirty-hour week and
GO per cent increase in wages and
In unyielding position by the operators
alike were declared impossible" by
Secretary Wilson in opening today the
| conference called to bring peace to the
bituminous fields OF the nation. To OBJ
tain this peace the secretary proposed
three plans of procedure.
Declaring that the Washington wage
agreement still Is legally in force Mr..
Wilson told the operators and miners
that the people of the United States
we're not "Shylocks" and no not want
% exact the technical exactions OF a
bond when the considerations under
changed He continued that that If any any
great change is made in the contracts,
the people Of the United States are the
throughout his remarks emphasized the
public interest In the coal settlement
Sets Forth Three Proposals.
The three propositions expected to
aid the two factions in arranging tho
new wage agreement were set forth
ny the Secretary of La bor, as follows.
First. Negotiation through joint wage
scale committees representing all dis
Second. Negotiation through concur
rent sessions of committees from the
various districts.
Ihird. Negotiation first OF an agree
rnent In the central competitive iields
and then of agreements for other fields
with that of the central district as a
oasis. -
After hearing Secretary Wilson. the
conference adjourned until 10 o'clock
operators to discuss sep.ratciS the th,.
plan which would be mos; acceptable
TO each.
Indications OF conflict on the sconc
y the agreement to be negotiated in
'olving the question OF recognition Of
nonunion workers developed at the out
MI f.a-
pparent In the two group meetings
which followed.
Scope of Conference Discussed.
Discussion in the miners caucus.
when followed the conference session.
hinged on the question whether on
IttorS representing both union and
n,onunlon fields would be Included in
e ,gree@nnf Gonnerense: rase,a and the effect any
might nave In those fields where tho
niners DO not have contracts with the
olirGiiadosi; lnifad W;,o Anth9,ugh n,g officers of the
my statement following their meet-
ing, IT was learned that the plan for
hu, h"tion, hsrn, vide conference was favored.
secretary Wilson will be asked to make
siear TO the conference that the rights
In those districts where the minsrs.
mons are not recognized by the coal
companies. s S'A4
The operators. however, did no, look
III fields. The washington war., ,s
,.,o .reement. for the first time, the op-
or the expiration OF contracts bctwenn
miners and operators In all parts OF
m ,rransemegt SSenrrS Fiva Fear Of the power This
orthS anout Il nationwide strike WIS
expressed by the operators, who lndi-
~ aT'tn t Hesire 20 return TO the old plan
~ oHSlnE all wage scale contracts on
ihe agreement reached in the cen,r,i
competitive fields
Outside Owners Confer.
Owners OF mines outside of th, CEN
inc opening OF the conference and on
position was expressed to CHARACTERIZATION
IN the negotiations.
Owing 10 the likelihood OF orotroctad
discussion of the scope of the confer
ence ,,i heiore even the demands OF tho
DO o4th sides Of the controversy predict
en nno ,odgay gy that the sessions might con
boih miners and operators asserted
11on.eht mat Secretary Wilson's adj
bringingo o"!d ciosnn nave oa pSowerful effect In
OIL both sides. The secrctary's addr.ss
wnich was heard by approximately so
slence; was delivered SLOWLY ana an
piareht1y ,ion r with deep feeling and convic-
srSe,ed !1 Hf Mr onty wiI Hippl9ase Of The session
nan about fifteen fainutcs late
Text OF Secrctnry's Address.
Dnring his speech Secretary wilson
1T is but fair to you to saw now fl,
| ne beginning OF this conferences thpt
= InlrlT-hour week, in the present IN
un3triai condition of the country and
or ot the world, is impossible | reaIizs
tne !act miners seldom have the on
p'o1r.uh!ty OF working an average os
thirty hours week throughouf tie
year. IN the present year their oDnor-
,tun!ties have been less than thirty
twenty-nlna and thirty
Nnd the opportunity TO work betwcen
t,wenty-nine and thirty hours n wceE
nSs For, cone TO them on a maximum Of
ivshe wscls = ;n.,1 maximum !! of thirty hours
; s.ahces surrounding the mining induS-
Try. very much less than thirty hours
There, are three principal reasons
Tor he large amount OF broken Tina
that miners have. One OF these Is tho
brenKdowns. the accidents that occur :
IN mininE operations. a second cans,
is the seasonal demands for coal
Ihe third reason is the matter OF
tIansportatlon--and to my mind IL -
the greatest of all OF them
Every operator of mine is placed
IN the position where he 'mlst htn,
the largest number of men possfsle 10
ma intain the largest daily capacify
that he can. in order to ger q snf.
aasisnt q ,alio,ment OF cars to meet ,ha
resuit In continually employing more