Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-15

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washington, Nov. Is. - Acceptance
without qualification by the mine
workers OF the proposal for negotiation
ne a nation wide scale agreement was
announced at the conference today by
John l. Lewis. acting president of the
United Mine workers.
Speaking on behalf Of operators out
side the central competitive field +, w.
Lukens, president Of the Southwestern
interstate Coal Operators Association.
proposed returning to the old policy
Of allowing, the basic scale to be nee
gotilted by miners and operators in
the central field.
\ President Lewis sharply denied
charges 81 bad faith IN tnercoar STRIFE
and william Green. secretary OF the
miners union. took exception to sSecre-
tary Wilson's statement that a go per
!, cent Increase In wages was Impossible.
Green said that the federal government
muchN increase to allow them an Amer
1can 1tAndaru OK living.
I'VE come in good faith in an hon.
est endeavor to reconcile differences"
President Lewis said, land you, Mr..
Secretary, representing the govern
ment. propose plan which we accept.
not because 1t Is the best plan, but
because the public has been told for
weeks it Is the plan Che operators
wanted"
II Wilson Says Demands Are Impossible.
Demands Of coal miners r6r thirty
four hour week and a 60 per cent in
crease in wages and an unytesding po-
I sition by the operators alike were
branded impossible" by Secretary
Wilson in opening today the CONFER
ence called TO bring peace to the BIZ
luminous coal fields of the nation. To
obtain this peace the secretary pro-
posed three plans Of procedure.
Asserting that the Washington wage
agreement still Is legally in force. Mr..
Wilson told the operators and miners
that the people Of the Omitted States
were not "Skylocks' and do not want
to exact "the technical provisions OF
a bond when the conditions under
which theF bond WAS made have
et,anged. y
I. added that III any great change
Is e in the contracts the people OF
the nited States are the, ones who
will have to pay" and thrucut his re-
marks emphasized the public interest
In the COIL Fettlement.
frl.lt For Agreement.
s5f The three aposals expected to aid
I the two fact 5is II arranging the new
wage agreement were set forth by the
labor secretary - followsi
First. negottatiOn thru joint wage
scale oesnmittees representing all diys
{, 4ricta.
r second. hsgotiAticn thru concurren,
sessions Of committees from the var
isus districts.
Third peEotiation first Of an agree
inent ~ the central competitive field
and then Of agreements for other fields
Il with that ef the central district as q
iSasis. 4s- " ,
Y I After hearing secrstary wilson the
\ conference adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow 70 permit the miners and
operators to discuss separately. the
<plan which would be most acceptable
New Conflict lmpsnds.
Indication Of q conflict on the scope
4 Of tie agreement to be negotiated in
volving the question Of recognition d
/nonunIon workers developed ct thf
ss ss sci:e:encc
group ,meetlngs which followed.
Discnssion IN the miners caucus
which followed the conference session
hinged on the question whether oper.
Ators representing both union dnt
nonunion fields would be included II
the conferences, and the effect an,
agreement reached by the conference
y might hays ihi those fields where the
\ miners % not have ccntracts win the
Il operators. Y.
1tho ofslcers of ne united Mine
-JWvrkers refused to make any state.
\ mSht following their meeting. Il Wal
4 iearned that thu plan for : nation wide
oon1essncS wee Favored. but before
w yS - VI asTsed tos ~ stas5
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