Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-12-13
EVENTS OF A wEKR

EVENTS OF A WEEK.
BY Tar the most Interesting Jews OF
the week 10 that the coal strike Is
ended, and that, while some of them
still remain out. most OF the strikers
are returning to work. and the pro-
duction Of coal OF a large scale is be-
ing resumed. The strike was called
OF under an arrangement presented in
iss final form by President Wilson.
Tho various steps in the negotiations
may be briefly reviewed.
Tho miners struck to enforce their
demand for a five day week, q six hour
day, and a 50 per cent advance In
wages. Secretary Of Labor Wilson
called a conference Of representatives
Of employers and employees. and after
several fruitlees sessions. he suggested
a 81 per cent wage advance, with in
ators to meet this advance. This
was rejected by the operators, while
the strike. leaders protested thcm-
selves willing to accept it. A few
days later. DR.. Garfield, who had been
investigating the subject from the
standpoint Of fuel administrator. an
nounced that when relative increases
In cost Of living and in miner1 wages
since the war began were compared.
It was evident that a IL per cent
,,o<rn ;-.ronuo 1,@,I@ h. n--ya 30
cqualize matters, and that this in
crease could be paid out OF mine
earnings without advancing the price
CT cal to the public,
Or. Garfield stated very emphatical-
ly that, as fuel administrator, he would
not permit any advance in coal prices,
and he urged that an agreement DO
made on the basis Of tho II per cent
increase As he had suggested This
was approved by the operators. while
tho miners representatives declared
that they would newer accept such an
arrangement They Interpreted the
suggestion by Secretary Wilson OF a
81 G cen advance. TO be paid in part
out Of increased prices to consumer1
az a direct pledge by the government,
and they insisted that the government
stand by its pledge.
At this point the president inter-
posed with a letter proposing that the
men eurn to work at the II per cent
advance temporarily, in which case
he would appoint 4 commission Of
three mem to investigate the whole
subject and report within 60 days. II
possible, the findings Of tho commits
SION to be accepted by adl pardA In
this letter tho president was careful
to disavow the idea that any pledge
had been made BY the government:
He referred specifically to the sus-
gestions made by Secretary Wilson
and Dr.. Garfield IS being the personal
opinions Of those men. The presidents
suggestion was accepted. and orders
were issued calling the strike on.
There Is no evidence that tho laga1
proceedings instituted by the depart,
ment Of justice have had any effect
whatever. Since the first few days
II the strike IN injunction against 1t
has been standing, but this fact does
not appear to have entered into the
calculations of anyone concerned. Re-
gardless OF the injunction the miners
continued their strike, and they con-
tinued it until they had obtained the
best terms that they seemed likely
to be able to exact When that point
had been reached, tho disconunuance
OF the strike was but a matter Of
hours.
The country has lost nearly SIX
weeks oal production by two-thirds
Of the entire soft coal mining force
OF the nation, and this at the begin
ming Of what promises to be a long
and severe winter. The pinch has
been felt more keenly during tho past
week. although tho disaster has been
a progressive one. While there are
individual communities which have
not yet been short Of coat, the affairs
OF the entire ration have been de-
Inoraldzed. There is no corner OF the
country which has not felt. or Will
not feel in some injurious way the
influence Of this strike.
+ + 4
n incident Of = rather sensational
character growing out OF the strike
was the Resignation Of d.. Garfield
which was made public on Friday.
Dr.. Garfield has insisted that there
lnua be no settlement Of tho coal
strike on terms which would involve
higher prices to tho and
he - convinced that tho Arrangement
now made viii necessarily resuA In
such increase Therefore he has sew
ered his connection with the govern
mont and washed his hands Of fur
ther responsibility. OF an tho per
IONS prominent in puSlic life who
have touched this sn15sct Oh. Car
field stands out u the enly a With
. definite policy for ths conservation
Of the publlc intsres&, tho courage 70
declare 4. and tho nzmness to stick
to t.
On this dido az tho oceaa matters
pertaining to tia League of Nations
have beea quiescent ave Tor . bried
cross fire in the senats q few days
ago. but somewhat interesting devel-
opMenty are IN progress IN Europe