The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-18
Both Sides Appear Eager to Relieve
Public from Apprehension of High
er Prices and Shortage of Coal
Seems Probable Threatened Strike of $50, 900
Miners May Be Averted Pending Readjust-
ment of Relations

n
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE
resume negotiations with the
100000 miners which has beer
bituminous regions Of the Mid
Their willingness was voice
ster, chairman of the coal ope
tive coal field, the district in'
in a conference today with S
John L. Lewis, president of tn
The respective heads OF the two
organizations we're called together by
Secretary Wilson in a ina effort to
prevent tho strike. Their conference
lasted throughout the dag
Chairman Brewster. however, said
the agreement OF the operators 20
arhitrate further was contingent
upon the following conditions:
CONDITIONS.
THE miners must indicate their
willingness TO carry out tho provis-
ions Of the ~so-called Washington
wage agreement which was made
during the war. This agreement has
until March 81. 1920. to u but the
miners had deemed IL ahrogated
with the signing of the arTntstice and
the return of peace.
1.-THE present strike order esec-
tive November ! L be rescinded
and work must be continued Tending
negotiations.
5-The operators will consider no
reductions In the hours OF labor be
how the present standard of an eight
hour day and a six day week. t
In addition to a wage increase of
approximately so per cent, h min
ers are demanding a six hour work
Ing day and a. fye-dax week-
Mr. Brewster further~accussd
the rNners' 81 had faith In carry
Ing out its agreements with the
operators For thirtv~shree
wears. he said. the operators
-. have beer, bargaining collectively -
with their employees and not
ounce In that time has the union
fulfilled the terms OF its various
contracts.
This failure Of the union to meet
fts obligations was attributed BY Mr.
Brewster to the inability ~ the MN
erx officials to control the members
OF their organization In the absence
Of legal responsibility Correction
OF this defect, he declared. wouid
make the relations between EN- pfoy-
ers and labor o amicable, It
could be brought about. he added
bv using legal on1 puision 10 make
tho nf4ton eunaIty table with the err
pieyer.
President Lewis Of the mine work
ers. had no comment to make on hts
views of the operators proposition
49, A.
submit Il 10 the members Of the or
Eantxation before making an an
n~ouncement
FAVOR ARBITRATION.
n he regarded generally. however.
thar the miners are in favor OF fur
ther arbitration at least, A letter
given out by Secretary Wilson subse-
ouetlt ~ the conference lent favor to
fhis tw preston In the letter he de-
ciared that the miners only asked
evidence of g sincere disposition on
the par of the operators TO arhi-
trate before renewing negotiations.
Following this lead Secretary
Wilson asked Chairman Brewster to
whom h letter was addressed, TO
have the wage conf ittee Of the op-
orators meet with him next Tuesday.
A similar letter extending the same
M ,kftFtAu6Apu It'd AiA+-~tttH~f@ W@EE Eo3E"
mittee was addressed to President
Lewis.
Later II was announced hat both
parties had accepted.
The te-v7s or which the operators
are willing to negotiations
with the miners were contained in 81
letter whirh Chairman R~ew~ter ton
dered secre.arv Wilson at today's
conference. The 'stte- reads.
"As chairman OF the Goa, operators
OF the Central Com petitive Ssld. ! am
instructed to mako the following re-
ply to yorr suggestions that negotia-
lions between nc miners and opera
tors he resvr,cd The coal operators
assure y,u that they arc willing to
corrls WITH ~cur request. bit the
resumption Of euch negotiations
should he ~rreftcated upon the fol-
lowing,
MUST OBSERVE CONTRACT
FL Tho iners II indicate
their willingness q carry out the
existing contract (Which contract Fl
A. Garfield. United States fuel al
ministrator attests is still In ettect)
to its legal termination.
"2-To do so the present strike
order effective November tst must
be rescirded and work must be con-
tfnuef pending negotiations.
%-~In order to produce sufficient
r"a! for The "eatr ~ the public at
The lowest possible cost, we refuse to
r'"a"tia't aav reduction in the hour
or labor below the present standard
eight hours per day, six days per
week
A pertinent to the questions in
VOWED the operators deem It advis-
able % say that the coal operators
Of the central competitive field have
adhered to the principles and prac-
tees Of collective bargaining for
thirty-three years with the largest
BODY Of organized labor in the United
States and 1t Is our opinion that our
ICn0tinusd on Pare Two.l