The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-11-12
u. M. W. Leaders Accept lnvi-
tation of Secretary of fLabor
Wilson to Meet the Operat-
ors Of Coal Mining States
Next Friday-Orders Call
ing Off Strike Go to All Lo-
cal Unions

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 1.-THE way
for the final adjustment OF the contro-
vcrsy between the bituminous coal opeF- :
ators and the United Mine Workers OF
America which resulted in strike OF
425 900 union coal miners and action ny
the government in the federal court ap-
pcarcd in sight tonight.
While the representatives of the MIN
ers, who earlier in the day had agreed
to comply with the mandate OF United
States District Judge 4. Is. Anderson,
and late today mailed an order rescind-
ing the strike. were discussing the fu-
turc policy Of the organization. tele-
grams we're received from w. b. Wilson,
secretary Of the United States depart
mcnt Of labor. and Thomas T. Brewster
chairman Of the operators scale comfnlt-
, tee, by John l.. Lewis acting president
Of the miners inviting the miners re-
prcscntalivcs 10 conference.
Accepted by Lewis.
Mr.. Lewis, on behalf Of the mine work
crs accepted the invitation OF Secretary
wilson to meet the bitumInous operators
of the country in Washington next Fiji
day morning at II o'clock, and replleo
TO Mr.. Brewster. who requested meet
ting Of the central competitive scale
committee with the operators OF the dis-
: trict in Washington. Monday, Nov. Ii
, ito negotiate contract TO be IN lorc"
upon the termination Of the contracf
! now in effect" that the miners ALREADY
! had accepted the Invitation oil MT. WI
! SON Copies Of the miners telegrams &c
MIR Wilson, and Mr.. Brewster were nor
available early tonight, but their con-
! tents were made public.
Trap was Feared.
In commenting on tho telegram lroH.
Mr.. Brewster. Ellis Searlcs. editor or
the United Mine Workers ournal ana
! other officials Of the organization, who
were under the impression that Mr.
! Brcwstcrs message was sent after ne
: had received Secretary wilson's INVITA-
! ton, declared they saw in the operators
! offer a deliberate attempt TO cntrap inc
miners into tacit acknowledgements
! that the Washington wage agreement
! was still in force. The miners have con-
, tended throughout the controversy mat
the wage contract has expired.
1T WIS neat little political move
on the part of the operators" said MI
/ Searlcs. They believed We would ae'
ccpt their proposal and in 80 doing
| admit that the Washington wage agree
raent was still operative. The miners
! however. accepted the offer Of Secretary
! Wilson to meet him in Washington next
Friday, and merely wired Mr. Brewssef
! TO that effect. AlsdC MI, ,lfsiAnfle p 1aes'
fsASe was timed one hour earlier In filing
than Mr.. Brewster's. We have main
taincd all along that the Washington
contract died with the war activities
and that at present the mine workers
have no contract with the operators OF
The central competitive fields.
Orders Ars Mailed
| 1t was said at the international head
quarters of the organization here that
practically all the copies Of the order.
! which called of the nation wide btu
minous coal strike were in the mails be-
fore the time limit set by Judge Ander-
son, six o'clock this evening. The recall
order previously had been submitted to
| the court. who characterized II as a
! good faith effort" to comply with the
courts mandate. This was after the
general committee Of the miners, COM
posed Of International officers, district
presidents and members Of the executive
board and scale committee had been In
session approximately eighteen hours
and at 4:lO this morning decided to COM
Iply with the mandate Of the court.
/ After the general committee which
went into session at . o'clock this after
noon as q policy committee had decided
Ito accept the invitation Of Secretary
| Wilson and refuse that of Mr.. brewster,
the committee adjourned at 5 o'clock
! and many of the members began TO
make preparations for their homeward
trips, those going to Washington for the
Friday meeting making railroad reserv-
lntiOnS for tho East,
| Nationwide Meeting
The Wilson invitation was not limited
to the scale committee Of the mine
workers. as wa. the brewster proposal
for q conference. William Green sec
.retary-trcasurdr Of the union explained
that every district in the United States
would be represented al the conference
| Friday. from the state Of Washin gton
TO Maryland. Tho miners who Will at
ltend the meeting will include the inter.
national officers, district presidents oil
whomcvcr the districts choose to send
members OF the executive board and OF
the scale committee, practically tho
| CONTINUED on PRge Etght.)