New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-16
Charges of Bad Faith Are
Made by Both Sides as
Secretary Wilson Calls
for Speed-Up Program
Lewis Asserts u. S.
Favors Operators
Discussion of Scale for
Centra l Competitive
District Begins Monday
Neso York Tribune
Wa h n0ton Rursat

New York Tribune
Wa kngton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-In a dra-
matte two-hour session marked by
charges of bad faith on both sides the
bitaminous coal operators and miners
-o-day agreed to begin negotiations to
settle the differences which led to the
recent strike.
The operators rejected the proposal
If Secretary Wilson of the Depart
lnent Of Labor that a general commit
tee representing all fields get tog ether
% work out an agreement. The miners
greed to accept the proposal, and
'fter the air had been filled with pas
donate oratory and with what one
operator termed "mud Singing" the
conference accepted another sugges-
1on OF Mr.. Wilson and scale COM
mittee representing tie operators and
miners OF the central competitive fields
Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
md Iilinois-began work on an agree
nent which it is hoped VIII form the
'asis for adjustment in the outlying
elds.
All Agree Speed Is Essential
How long this committee may take
u perform its task neither miners
repre resentatlves nor operators Cared to
rred.ct, bu. through the session, as
through the tirsA one yesterday, ran
wilson, by operators and miners, that
i the interest of the pubic the
peedest possible conclusion of the de-
Der tions is desired and must be had
At the first conference of the wage
Gale committee of the central competi-
I've fields, later in the day, the miners
gain presented their Old demands for a
80 per cent wage increase, s.x-hour
lay and a five-dAy week. They vir ,ual4y
lad served notice in the general con-
crence that they intend Il 20 take this
'osltion, and it caused no great surprise,
or did it convince officials that There
Touid be no agreement in the end. The
operators would not accept these de-
.ands, and the meeting adjourned over
'ntil Monday. The operators in the
mean time will meet by themselves.
AT conference OF operators from
he outlying districts it was decided
OF to accept without seeing what the
gage scaic committee of the central
Ields evolved. Officials felt. however.
hat with the Genital fields out Of The
Way the other proD.cm would not be
% difficult.
Debate Not Lacking in "Ginger"
There YVES not dull mrutc in tive
.eneral session. John L. Lewis, acting
sresl5ent of lhe United Mime Workers,
and William Green, its secretary, de-
ciared the time had come when the
miners were tired of yielding every de-
nand they had made, and wished to
know when the government Of the
United States intends to exert its pow
or upon the opel ators.
Striding up and down the little we'll
n front of the platform, Mr. Lewis
declared information from Alabama
mine workers showed the operators
here refusing men jobs who sought to
return TO work. and he asked whether
The Department of Justice would use
he Lever act to compel them to obey
the law and not to restrict the produc-
sion of coal. He to d of guards armed
with Winchester rifles and side arms
patrolling some of the coal fields of
West Virginia. suppressing free speech
and terrorizing the miners.
Operators who spoke became just
as vehement in stating that miners had
orohen their contracts, and generally
40 s ch conditions as Mr.. Lewis re-
TERED to existed in the fields. Several
speakers gave their views that the
miners mad not returned to work in
great numbers. and that nobody could
.eil when normal production would be
resumed
r. ". Lukens. of the Southwestern
coal Operators Association, was the
'rst man on either side to speak in re-
spcnse to Secretary Wilson question
IS 10 whether they would accept his
suggestion. Mr.. Lukens declared it
weu.d be better for the Central Com
2etltive Fields to negotiate their scale
Lewis Accepts for Miners
MIR. Lewis came to his feet the in
stant MIR. Lukens sat down. S.owly and
DE i6erGtely he said:
me mine workers accept the sug-
sestion you made, MIR. Secretary, with
out Qualification, and | want to ex-
press my utter amazement at the atti
suoe OF the corporations as indicated
oy the spokesman. have in. mind
enst II there has been any one thing
used by the operators to crystalline
hostile sentiment Of the people against
.ne miners 1t has been the oft reiter-
ssed cry emanating from the operators
mat they stand ready and willing to
negotiate wage scale. The estimable
Mr. Lukens proposed to me that we
"e9otiate new wage scae with the
operators of Missouri, but Governor
uafaner of that state telegraphed to
..e protesting against such an ar
vangement. The Governors of West
,,'rginia, Of Kansas, of Michigan did
.ne same thing. We have taken these
Cns,ts~.y AZ.