Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-14
Garfield Warns Coal Con-
!, ference Must Be Freed
of s'Commitments."
OPERATORS AND %
UNION HEADS MEET
opst tators Issue Statement on Eve Of
Conference Expressing Willingness
{ to Pay Liberal Wages For Actual
Work But No Pay For idisnsss-To
Fisht 60 Per Cent Wage Increase
Demanded by Miners.

Demanded BY Miners.
-
Washington. Nov. 14.-success of the
conference between coal miners and
operators, called by Secretary Wilson
to begin here today in an effort to
bring peace to- the coal industry. de-
pends on all parties coming into the
parley without commitments" Fuel
Administrators Garfield said today.
DR.. Garfield arrived here this morn
Ing at the invitation of Secretary VIII
son. who desires his assistance in the
conference.
John L. Lewis. acting president Of
tho mine. workers, and scale committee
arrived here today. 4
Want Pay For ldleness.
On the eve Of the governments coal
dispute conference, the executive COM
mittee Of the coal operators Of the cen-
trail competitive aeld issued a state
ment last night, disclaiming any IN
tention Of attempting to trap the min
ers into an admission that the Wash--
ington wage agreement is still In force,
proclaiming that IT. is their policy to
five the miners generous wages, but
insisting that the miners are now being
paid fair rates of wages and that 1t is
their own fault il they do not receive
adequate pay.
"The demand for increased wages Is
really based upon a desire to be paid
for idle time and not for actual work
done" says the statement issued after
a Yong conference Of the executive
committee headed BY Thomas F..
Brewster, chairman. I
rs Fight 60 Pr Cent Maa tns9s sass.
Il The dfM word from the operators
since the strike order was rescinded
and Secretary Wilson's call for con-.
ference Indicates they are going to
continue the light against the 80 per
cent increase, demand BY the miners,
hut that they are willing to negotiate
a new agreement, with perhaps COM
promise on wages.
From the operators attitude. ex-
pressed in the statebentN Nit is assumed
the government will insist on proof
OF their contentious relating to waSess
and 1t Is known the government wants
to know just what the profits and earn
ings Of the operators have been under
the Washington agreement negotiated
by Fuel Administrator Garfield.
Late last night the time for the con-
ference was changed from II o'clock
until 2:3O in the afternoon. owing to
inability Of John L. Lewis, acting pres
ident of the, miners, and his associates
to reach Washington before this morn
ing. ~ re=t ~.
Statement Of Operators. 80
The operators statement says:
Central competitive field operators
are desirous of negotiating fair wage
agreement at the earliest possible mo-
ment. but have been prevented from
doing SO because the miners demands
have been complicated with impossi-
bic, collateral questions.
:"These operators have no desire 70
be unjust or unfair. They believe ev-
cry man should receive a fair wage;
more. as generous wage as the pub
lie interest win allow. That has been
their policy. individually and collec-
lively, it will continue to be their. poll
icy: they will 90 to tousbrrow's mest-
ing with that policy In mind. ~
psny Man Ars undsrpald.
TT has been charged that mine ena-
pioyes are not able to earn fair wages.
We deny these charges. specifically and
emphatically. That miners can and do
earn fair wages win be substantiatcd
during the negotiations. y
'The public should, understand that
frregular operation, broken working
time and similar conditions are seri!l
ously aggravated by the miner himself.
"At every mine from 20 70 Is per
cent Of its employees are regularly abs
sent on days when the NINE IL in ops
Grafton and when they might be work.
ing for good wages"
Guards Against Retaliation.
The department of Justice will tol-
crate no willful restriction of coal OUT
put on the part of the, operators any
more than 1t will from the miners.
sNAttorney General Palmer made this
clear when ie. was notified that Ala
bama operators were dischargins
strikers who had returned to works
The attorney general at once tele-
graphad for details and names Of tl,e
opera tors and stated that he would
take nrorsnt action against any opera-
tors .'who adopt such methods to res,
,strict production" ..tt
tJrder the Lever law the govern
ment could erjoin operators, from re-
str!cting output. ~ .
Nonunion Operators. 6alk.
Holding that their participation
might be corgtrued as acceptance of
the union principle, operators OF nom
union coal mines announced after a.
conference that Sthey probably would
not accept the, invitation Of Secretary
wilson to take part lin the conference
TO begin here today. X in ss
The output Of the non union mines
II saapproximately 100000 900 tons, or
one sixth Of the nations production.
The nrst snag the conference will run
upon wln be the willingness OF the
opsrators outside Of the central nei4
g -. g nA@otiA fsn'ss - fnr other