Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-20
OPERATOR CLAIMS
Mr.. PALMER ASKED
COAL COMPROMISE
A. M. 0gIe Declares Action
Proposed Was Branded
DastardIy Surrender.

|
| After Attorney General Palmer had
| testified that the settlement of the
coal strike had been effected by 1.-THE
| firm. strong hand of the govern
| ment." which had forced the miners
! to yield, A. NJ. Ogle. chairman of the
| executive committee of the National
before the Senate committee investi-
eating the coal strike yesterday aft
ernoon and declared the Attorney
General had asked the operators to
compromise the coal strike with the
miners.
He said that the Attorney General
| had suggested that the operators
compromise on a basis Of granting
more than the immediate IA per cent
increase in wages which the govern
ment settlement finally awarded
them.
The operators. Mr.. Ogle testified,
, had rejected the proposal as "a das-
tard!y, cowardly surrender of the
public's rights
Mr.. Ogle said that the Attorney
operators on December 5.
Climax to Series of Revelations.
Ogle's testimony, given after Attor-
ney General Palmer, who was before
the committee practically the entire
day. had left the room, came as the
climax to a series of revelations con-
corning the governments movements
In the strike. The operators chairman
refused to divulge details when first
put on the stand, but finally told his
story after getting permission to con-
suit his attorney, Rush Butler, who
was also called as a witness.
Investigation to Continue.
Chairman Frelinghuysen OF the Sen
ate committee indicated after con-
ciusion of the hearing that the inves-
tisation would be continued on the
strength or the information brought
out.
Attorney Butler, for the operators.
when called to the stand, declared that
the maj memorandum of agreement be-
tween the Attorney General and tne
miners was Numerically opposed" to
had accepted
DR. Garfield never contemplated a
commission to fix prices for one
thing" he said.
senator Townsend at the conclusion
OF TINS testimony asked for some one
who could speak for the mine
operators. and Ogle was called.
AFTER a moment of fencing with
Senator Townsend, and a conference
with Mr.. Butler. he proceeded
On Friday. December 5. after Dr.
by the miners and the injunction pro-
ceedings were being pushed at In
dianapolis." Mr.. Ogle said. members
of the coal operators executive com
mittee and myself were called in for
talk with the Attorney General in
his office.
"Had Some DfmeuIties.,
He said that we must have some
figure for wage advance above the
Il hv Dr Co
field which we would be willing to
offer the miners in order to settle
the situation. The government was
not engaged in compromising it's
stand. he said. but had some diff
culties.
'The Injunction proceedings were
coming to a head at Indianapolis on
Tuesday, he told us. and they were
afraid that Judge Anderson would
act in a characteristic fashion and
violating his injunction under the
Lever act. There might be general
uprising, he said, which ought to be
avoided.
HE said that the fuel admins
tration was only a temporary OFF,
cial. and that his proposal Of IA
per cent increase could be set aside.
He asked us how far we would go in
a further advance of wages"
what answer did you maker" Sena-
tor Frelinghuysen inquired.
1--WE told him that the question of
miners wages and prices of coal had
now become relatively insignificant"
Ogle responded.
ut seemed to US a question of law
and order, an issue that could not
be yielded. We said that settlement
now by granting an increase would
be a dastardly, cowardly surrender
of principles that must be sustained"
You believe this an effort to com
promise? Senator Frelinghuysen pur-
sued.
I'VE did," ogle returned. land we
rejected the idea"
"Have you agreed to the govern
ment's proposition now?" Senator
Townsend asked.
1--WE have not" Ogle responded. 'srhe
proposal has never been submitted to
us. We have called the Attorney Cen
erals =, attention to several vital
changes made in DR.. Garfeld's origi-
nal suggestion"
Operators had been left livery much
confused" he said further. as to what
the government had done. No COM
mission he asserted, could cover the
wage and price problems arising IN
the soft coal industry of the United
States in months, land come to any
just conclusion"