Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-23
COAL COMP PROM|SE
LOADED DICE FOR
THE CONSUME RS
Senator FreIinghuysen Insists
Some Sort of Secret Agree
ment Was Made With the
Strikers.

MI lhCl Ou
lay MORNING JOURNAL spEc ~ LsAeEp wpsI
Washington, Dec. 22.-Entering into
the controversy regarding the govern
ment's proposals for settlement of the
coal strike, Senator Frelinghuys re-
publican. of New jersey, chairman OF
the senate committee investigating the
coal situation, in a formal statement
tonight declared that in the govern
ments negotiations there must have
been some sort Of a secret deal made
in addition TO the signed statement"
Explaining that he spoke for him
self only and not for other members of
his committee, Senator Frelinghuysen
reviewed the testimony adduced by the
committee hearings to date and added
that out of the stttlement of the strike
I'm any event the public may look for
an increase in the price of coal or an
other strike"
The New Jersey senator character
zed the settlement proposition as put
forth by Attorney General Palmer and
accepted by the miners "as q loaded
dice for the American public"
The executive committee Of coal
mine operators, following their state
ment of yesterday, declaring that the
governments proposal as finally
drafted was vitality different from The
plan formulated by former Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield and which they
bound themselves to accept MAIN
tanned silence today.
The operators, however decided
during the day, to call off meeting
of the scale committee OF the centfal
competitive field, which had been
called for Tuesday in Cleveland. At
-, -. asfI fgl, a nj
after Christmas. II was said the oper-
ators expect TO formulate decision
as TO the policy they will adopt to-
wards the government plan and the
commission appointed Saturday by
President Wilson to adjudicate the
miners claims,
Operators' Assertions Denied.
Attorney General Palmer, in a
aatemept torlght denied the asser
ssesss .EtAtt tfT FHa8 A
whose position he characterized as
the merest bubble and quite un-
worthy of the representatives of a
great industry"
The operators, the attorney general
said, from the beginning had been
for arbitration aud had
stated repeatedly their Willingness to
conform to any plan which the presi-
dent might suggest,
Their allegations now, continued
MI r blIltlF Aiidi llitN htlH hob WI
suited about the form of the memoir
andum, which was submitted to the
conference, is absurd"
The settlement proposal, as accept
&C by the miners. the attorney gem
cfal further declared. was submitted
to representatives of the operators in
who in turn commun!-
Gated it to their representatives in
"No objection was made" added
Mr.. Palmer. "The operators remain
ed absolutely silent until after the
men were back in the mines Then
for the first time they began to OBJ
iect.
Relied Upon President.
"The miners went back to work in
obedience to the law and the orders
Df the court without having their de-
mands granted. They relied. as they
had a right to rely, upon the promise
)f the president that upon complete
resumption Of operations a commit
lee would be appointed to take up the
natter at issue. The officers of the
government had an equal right to
ely upon the good faith of the opera |
ors In their previous declarations of
agreement with this program. The
government will not assume that the
operators will break faith, and. in |
Iced, ways will be found to keep faith |
n this vitality important transaction. |
rhe commission will proceed with its !
work and j have no doubt that upon |
'urther reflection the operators will |
Zee the wisdom of hearty cooperation
With it,
Praises Garfield's Stand
Praising the stand taken by DR. II |
s Garfield, who recently resigned as |
'uel administrator because Of dis |
agreement with the strike settlement |
senator Frelinghuysen said:
.Isas. L t.lR tVNsY aas.FaNa II
he hostility of DR.. Garfield and |
,aused his resignation, is acceptable.
q the miners because it opens the
loor to further demands and further |
wage increases, which the public must |
,ay:
THE miners are expecting that adj
iitional raise as a result of this agree
nent. Chairman Lewis. in his ad- |
lress to his men. December 10. 1913
speaks of the probability of further |
Increase In all classificatiOns of labor
when the commission finally makes It's
award.
There must have been some Sc
,ret deal made in addition to the sign
I'd agreement. In anv event. the pub
ic NAV look for an increase in the
price of coal or another strike.
Vital Principle Involved.
There was a vital principle invol-
red in, this contest and that was
gnored in the settlement of this strike.
shall the law be supreme or
hall an organization. a class hold IT.
;elf above the law, and refuse obe-
Hence thereto. when its selfish inter
,sts come in conflict with the public
yood?"
II was opposed even to the raise
# Ia per cent. authorized by DR.. Gar
'ield. 1t should never have been
granted. Though ostensiblv coming out
If the pockets of the operators, 1t in
volves an addition to the cost of pro-
luction of hundreds of millions of dol
airs and makes practically impossible
INV reduction to the consumer for
wo or three wears to come.
IF that concession is Questionable
low much more objectionable is the
possibility of any further increase
uch as Mr.. Lewis acting chairman
Il the United Mine Workers. has as
ured his men they are likelv to he
ure under the agreement with the
.ttornev general. which Mr.. Lewis.
himself. SAYS differs materially from
he proposition made by DR.. Gar
ield'
"Phat is what the miners expect, 1t
vas uDon that basis upon that asslr-
nee. that they are willing to obey the
aw.
"It will be sad day for America If
bedience to the law must be pur-
hased in this manner. / am opposed
o such a proposition and believe
he American people are opposed tot