Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-28
CHANCE GIVEN ALL MINERS
TOGO BACK TO JoBS---FOR.
INCREASE OF Il PER CENT
Garfield Says Cabinet Reached Decision as to Rate
After Long and Careful Research, and
It Is Final.

Washington, Nov. 28.-Seizure Of I,
bituminous coal mines where the
owners do not show a disposition
to cooperate in increasing produc-
ton and use of troops to protect
all miners who desire to work has
been decided upon by the govern
ment in an effort to end the btu
minous coal strike, it was stated
today officially.
Cabinet Decided.
There plans of the government
were agreed upon by the cabinet
last Wednesday, officials said, so
as to meet the situation resulting
from a refusal from the operators
or miners, or both, to agree to the
governments wage increase pro-
posal.
No General Control.
Cabinet officers expected many
mine owners to put into effect vol
UNFAIRLY the IA per cent wage in
crease. Whether the mines of those
refusing to do SO would be seized
was not made clear, but it las said
that there was no general plan for
government control; that each in
dividual case would be decided on
its merits.
Details Not Disclosed.
J Mines taken over by the govern
ment will be orerated BY the fuel
administration, but details .as, to
compensation to the owners we're
not disclosed. While various fed
eral agencies wers prelsrinG TO
carry ont the governmentsS pro-
gram, Fuel Administrator Garfield
reAfirmed- In even more emphatic
terms his position that "profiteering
on the part Of either labor or capi-
tai will not be tolerated"
"The public cannot and will not
be asked to bear the increased bur
den Of higher prices of coal nor of
the payment Of a largo sum as
wages to any special class OF work.
ers," he said.
Mind Made Up.
Pointing out that his conclusion
had been reached only after care
full and exhaustive research, DR..
Garfield declared neither the pro-
testation Of the miners against the
IA per cent wage advance, nor the
insistence Of the operator that they
be permitted to charge a higher
price for coal would induce him to
alter his decision that a IA per cent
increas was the amount necessary
to bring the miners wage up to the
level of living costs and that the
operators could pay this advance
without increasing prices to the
public.
Break Negotiations.
Negotiations between miners and
operators were broken off and wage
scale committees adjourned yester-
day, without having accomplished
anything otht.: than to bring down
on the heads Of government officials
criticisms from miners and oper-
ators alike.
Officials Of both the operators and
miners organizations professed in
ability to even forecast what devel-
opments the next 48 hours might
bring forth and both sides frankly
admitted they were awaiting the
governments next move.
In official circles, despite the lack
Of public expression, however, the
view was held that only drastic
action could and would. be taken
and that the mines would be open
ed at whatever cost.
May Agree in Illinois.
Springfield, ILL.,, Nov. 2S.-Settle-
ment of the strike of bituminous
coal miners in Illinois by agree
ment between the Illinois opera
tors association and the United
Mine Workers of Illinois, was con-
sidered a possibility today.
State officials were said to be
considering this means of bringing
q solution to the strike which, If
continued 10 days, will mean q coal
famine and much suffering.
Frank Harrington, state president
OF the miners, Is expected here
from Washington not later than
Monday and upon his return it is
thought some attempt will be made
to ward bringing the state opera
| tcrs and miners together.
May Reopen in Iowa
Des Moipes, Iowa, Nov. 2S.--
Statements of some of the local coal
operators In Des Moines today IN
dicated that somd Iowa mine own
ers may consider attempts to re-
open their mines in the near future.
1t was said that no concerted ac-
ton along that line was being con-
sidered by the Iowa State Coal
Operators association, as a body,
and whatever is done will be by in
dividual owners or companies only
Grows More Critical
Chicago, Ill, Nov. 2S.-Cold
weather, with snow and sleet
storms, today had spread over tue
central and southwest and made
tmore critical the fuel situation