New-York tribune., 1919-12-23
Palmer Threatens
Nine Operators
Hints That Way Will Be
Found to Make Then,
Agree to His Policy
Netu York Tribune
WdShtnotOn Rureo,,


WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The Attor-
ney General issued a statement to-
night taking issue with the operators
over their claim that they had not
agreed to the Palmer-Lcwis plan and
declaring their allegation that they
had not been consulted "about its
form" was absurd" In closing Mr..
Palmer apparently threatens the
| operators with undisclosed wavs of
making them present sheir side of the
case to the presendential commission.
He said in this connection:
"The government will not assume
that the operators will break faith, and,
indeed, ways will be found to see that
Ell parties keep faith in this vitality
important transaction. The commits
sion will proceed with its work and l
have no doubt that upon further re-
Election the operators will see the wis
dom Of hearty cooperation with it,"
Just what Mr.. Palmer meant was not
indicated by officials of the Depart
ment of Justice, but in other quarters
there was feeling that he might at
tempt to force the operators to present
their case to the commission through
legal proceedings against them as in
Lever act.
Restriction of Output Charged
Some of the operators outside the
central competitive fields, the ones di-
rectly concerned in the recent strike,
have been accused in the past by the
miners Of combining to prevent miners
who went out from returning to work,
thereby restricting the production
Of coal. Sufficient evidence to back an
effort to procure indictments on this
ground might be developed. The moral
effect upon other operators would be
great. although many of those now in
Washington are in the mood at present
to fight it out, no matter what happens
Mr.. Palmer, in his statement. said
the settlement proposal accepted BY
the miners was submitted to repre-
scntatives of the operators in Indian
apolis and communicated by them to
their representatives. in Washington
mo objection was made" he said
The operators remained absolutely
silent until after the men were back
in tho mines. Then for the first time
they began to object.
"The miners went back to work in
obedience to the law and the orders Of
the court without having their demands
granted. They relied, as they had a
right to rely, upon the promise of the
President that Immediately upon COM
plete resumption of operations a COM
mission would be appointed to take up
the matters at issue. The officers Of
the government had an equal right to
rely upon the good faith of the OPP
orators in their nrevious declarations
of agreement with this program"
Operators Meeting Postponed
The operators to-day decided not to
hold any general meeting. such as had
been planned, until after Christmas
The difficulty of getting many oper-
ators to attend at the holiday season
was given as the reason for this Shift
in plans, but the meeting probably will
be held later.
White House officials said to-day that
a meeting of the commission named
by the President Saturday will be
called for the near future, possibly be-
fore the first of the year. Just what
the commission will do without official
participation by the operators was not
indicated, but it will make an effort