Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-21
PALMER RAPs OPERATORS
DENOUNCES AS FALSE
STATEMENT OF 0GlE
Declares Failure on Minc Owners
Part to Accept Would he .<nRH-
Ing RepudintiOp.


WASHINGTON, Dec. ?c--.Fonowing
declarations made before the Senate
Investigating committee Yesterday to
tho effect that the bituminous coal
mine operators Of the United states
had not accepted the governments
proposals 10" settling the coal strike,
though the miners have largely re-
turned to work. under them. members
OF the coal operators associations re-
main in Washington. and today sew
Attorney-G Palmer. The eNecu-
live committee OF the operators asso
Attorney General Palmer issued u
statement. asserting that failure by
the operators 10 agree 10 the govern.
Sn pd PA" wd 5S Ss s an amazi f 'G Te
pudiation OF their own statements"
lie added that the operators, "oi'icia
representatives have repeatedly agreed
10 the settlement plan
Rcfer> to OEic'> Statement.
Mc. ralmer's statement also referred
10 testimony given yesterday before
tee by Alfred NJ. orle. chairman OF
the executive committee of tho coat
operators alleging ;hat the -\ttorney-
General had suggested 70 the opcr-
,tors !. compromise with the miners
involving more than II per cent
wage increase before the setticmen.
and the miners began oGie told the
committee the operators consid'
cred his nro pc iGom snr2nnaSr
The rights OF the public and the GOV
crnment."
Alter quoting THIS portion Of ogle's
in tina, statement"
s orna ataef H?i ''' Of obin H had
been expressed in the newspapers as
10 whether the offer OF the .operators
lad been conditioned upon an Increase
III the price Of coal. Mr. Oele came.
10 me on Friday, December 5. 70 de-
had been made BY the scale COMMITTEES
in the joint conference With the miners.
crnmcn, had not the slightest intci:
,on Of making any compromise, Of
any kind or character ana proposed To-
had already taken as announced sey-
rral Times by tho President and my
self. The operators had offered a -
ASKED for information as To whether
that offer was conditioned upon the
price OF coal being raised and whether,
as a matter OF fact. the industry coulu
stand an increase OF wages beyond -
per cent without raising the price OF
coal.
Was Simply Enforcing Law.
They replied that their offer had
been made contingent upon a read
lustmcn, of the government price o:
coal and that in their opinion II PEE
-
could be absorbed by the opcrat orS.
| made i, perfectly clear to them that
J was not concerned with the merits
Of tbs controversy between the opera
tors and the miners. and that was
simply enforcing the law. and pro-
posed TO do SO 10 the end. This was
There was not enc word in il 10 suS-
gest tina; was proposing any COM
promise or adjustment OF the matter
AS for ;he testimony OF Osl. and
others tina; the Presidents plan is
not satisfactory 20 The operators.
can only say that in every statemen,
-he President made upon the matter
ne proposed commission 10 invcs;i-
gate and determine the matters III dis
pute, and that after each statement
N'z< published the operators committee
prom ply SAID they agreed 70 the
.,on Friday, Decembe- .. their com
times heartily in favor o.: arbitration
q ;hese matters, in dispute ny q com
mission 20 be appointed by the Presi-
~ Presidents statement to III. But.
le7. their counsel mot being able 20
g: NJ. ogle), and Nj Butler stated
When the Presidents letter and the
memorandum briefly cmbodying his
suggestion we're published d: Indian
Thomas 7. Brewster, chairman oc ;hH
scale committee or the operators Of III.
central competitive field. announced q:
me unqualified approval OF ,h. on.-a.
trrs and that the mines were ready
. Fc33en as soon as the men accep.ei
The plan and returned to WORK
The men have arceDirj ~. ,,,,
'aeE nave returned TO work: production
Is nov taking place on q larger seal.
IMAM n any month ~ December fo-
ntny Years past. After all this. il
would he an amazing population OF
'he!r own statements If the operators
20 ho' acquiesce in tho plan which
a -.
pcat.Gl" greed TO-. l.
---.!T OIL