Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-11-14
OPERATORS AND
mIFls::I1iS l)sS,lssl)SS
DISPUTE: TODAY
Termination Of Washington
Wage Agreement Principle
Subject OF Controversy.
RADICALISN CROPS
OUT IN WEST VIRGINIA
Department of Justice Men Rushed
There-Few Miners Return Else
where--Lewis Expects Den-
onstration of Good Faith.

| Washington, Nov. l3.-Coal min
ers and operators from the nations
bituminous fields will enter into ne
gotiations here tomorrow for a new
wage agreement, with the question
of the time of termination of the
Washington wage agreement of 1915
apparently the chief stumbling block
! Both miners and operators, on the
eve Of the conference at which the
points in dispute in the recent strike
are expected to be settled were hope
full, however, as to the outcome and
expressed the belief that the quos-
ton of when the Washington agree
ment terminates could be disposed Of
through mutual agreement along
with the demands of he miners for
60 per cen increase in pay and short
err hours.
Announcement by the executive
committee of the operators of the
central competitive field, in a formal
statement tonight that the WASH
ington agreement is one of the mat
ters "to be determined by the con-
ference" was taken generally to mean
that the operators do not intend 30
stand pat on their contention that
present contracts remain in effect
during the duration of the war" or
until March 81. 1920, in case a
satisfactory settlement is made with
the miners on that and other points.
1t was said bv those in close touch
with the situation that the opera
tors were going into the conference
tomorrow in conciliatory spirit
and would not insist on the interpre-
tation that the war is not over, al
though their stand has been sup
ported by the pronouncement of the
administration and the mandate Of
Federal Judge Anderson at Indiana
polls.
Miners arriving here today for the
parley attached significance to the
announcement by Secretary of Labor
Wilson that Fuel Administrator
Garfield had accented his invitation
to be present at the opening of the
conference. No explanation Of the
role Dr. Garfield is to play was Civ
en- other than the statement that it
was through his influence that the
"Washington agreement" was nego-
tiated. his presence was logically to
be expected. There was speculation as
to whether the fuel administrator,
with revived war powers. might not
be able to exercise his authority in
similar manner on this occasion.
Charleston, W. Va, Nov. 10
Agents of the department of justice
are en- route to the coal mining dis
trictss of northern West Virginia,
Governor Cornwell announced to-
nioht. following advices from Wash
ington to that effect. 1t will be
their purpose to "clean out radical
Icenters" and round up ]. w. w. and
Russian apitators. he said.
w. L. Duff, cabin creek coal
miner, to whom had been shipped the
arms and ammunition seized yester-
day at Dawes, w. Va. by order of
Governor Cornwell, was arrested at
Miami, w. Va, today. Duff, who
was taken on an executive warrant,
is charged with "conspiring against
the state" it was said at the gov
errors office.
100 Per Cent Idle.
Pittsburgh, Kan, Nov. 13.-The
Kansas coal mines still are 100 pei
cent idle today, it was announced
from both the miners and the opera
+ors headuuarters