The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-11-28
NEWPROPOSAl MADE.
TO END COAL STRIKE.
THiRTY-oNE PER CENT INCREASE
SAID TO HAVE BEEN BASIS
OF LATEST OFFER
MEN REFUSE 20 PER CENT
Then Operators in Turn Refuse Forty
Per Cent Increase Demanded by
Miners.-Secretary Wilson
Steps to Front

Labor Wilson stepped TO the front
again last night in an effort to bring
miners and operators together after
proposal by each side had been re-
jected and the slate wiped clean.
Mr. Wilson is said TO have formally
presented a definite proposal for set
Element of wage disputes which would
send bituminous miners back to work
before the country was in the throes
of coal famine, but its nature was
not disclosed. 1t was generally be-
lieved he suggested a wage increase
of about 81 per cent.
| Both sides united in asking him to
| join the joint sub scale committee
after the miners had definitely reject
| ed 20 per cent wage advance and the
operators had finally refused to agree
to counter proposal from the work
ers for 40 per cent increase, a seven
| hour day and six-day week, with
| half holiday on Saturday.
Secretary Wilson said that progress
had been made and that he would meet
the subcommittee again this afternoon
Comparative data on increases in
the cost of living and wage advances
to miners since 1914, were submitted
by Mr.. Wilson, who declined to make
public his proposition. 1t was said he
proposed an increase of approximately
81 per cent, the difference between
the cost of living and wage increase
figures announced by the secretary at
the opening of the conference last
week. An ultimatum served by the |
operators that their offer represented |
the maximum was reaffirmed last |
night by T. T. Brewster for the opera |
tors, who declared it could not be in |
creased unless the government says |
we should do it,
When the conference failed to agree
on either sides proposition the opera
tors suggested referring the dispute
to arbitration, but the miners objected.
The operators proposed a tribunal of
nine members to be chosen in one of
three different ways: each side TO pick
four members and the eight to select
the umpire: each side to name four
and the president of the United States
the ninth; or each side TO name three
and the other three to be chosen by
the president.
The counter proposition from the
scaling down their earlier de-
mands, was submitted by John L.
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers of America, after he
mad conferred with Secretary Wilson.
Mr.. Lewis stated that the new demand |
'or a 40 per cent wage increase for all
sorts of work presented the margin
the wage increases received
~ the miners since 1914, and the jump
aiken by living costs.
The mine workers also insisted that
I'll local differences not covered by
agreements be referred back
o the districts in which they orig
mated for settlement.
DR.. Garfield emphasized in a tele-
ram to Governor Harding of Iowa, |
efusing to delegate the power of fix t
ng coal prices to state executives, t
hat the federal government intended '
o retain control of the strike situa-
ion In official circles it was said
hat action by the states at this time a
7ould greatly embarrass the attempt b
0 reach a settlement here. DIR. Gar a
elds message was taken to mean that t
overnors could not change the wage 4
Gale in an effort to get the miners p
ack to work, as the fuel administra-
on refused to allow Increases in o
laximum coal prices to meet in r.
reased cost of production. h