The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-22
COAL OPERATORS
CALL MEETING TO
CONSIDER PLAN
.-.--
Meeting Called in Cleve-
land to Consider Special
Commission
TOACREEMENT
Objection to Plan il that
Commission i Admins
rafive Instead Of Advis-
DRY

Wa1sins4on, Dec. 41.--Membcrs OF
~ executive committee Of the nlsu-
-1sxn0<e- eca.-opArators-z Eut-, out To-
u1u1Rt q hurried call for \ meeting OF
tbe oEga ni3ed fields to determine what
action they will take on the presi-
dents special coal commission.
The operators are openly 2ntago~
nlguc to the plan under which the
social commission il To operate &C
aording to the presidents letter.
They reiterated today that they mad
Avof been consulted and had never
aErecd to the memorandum OF set
Palmer and President Lewis of tho
United Mine Worries enroute to To-
annapolis December 7.
The operators declare that the only
plan Of settlement To which they have
agreed was the one outlined by Fuel
Administrator Garfield. They object
70 the now commission on the ground
that Il liz administrative instead Of
advisory, that 1t Will revive old
troubles regarding district and In
ternal working conditions and that
its findings are 10 be made retro
active.
The bituninous coal executive com
mittcemen said today that the gov
ernment's new move was OF such a
character that II demanded iKnmed :
late considers ton by the operators
nj large and for this reason In spite
Of tho difficulties attending the hold
Ing of meeting Just before Christ
mas they decided to issuc the call.
Whether the coal operators will
cooperate with the presidents COM
mission will be decided at the Cleve-
land meeting.
The executive committee issued the
following statement tonight:
I'm the light OF the statement Of
Attorney General Palmer Of yester-
day In which he ray. that it would
he an amazing Reputation OF their
own state nfents IL the operators do
act acauiesce in the plan which their
o&Scial representatives have repeated
" agreed to- in the settlement OF the
coal strike, the hituminous coal OPP
orators feel inepeiled 10 restate their
attitude so that 1t may be clearly ap~
preciated by the public.
Attorney General Palmer. In his
statement Of yesterday asserted thai
tAe operators had agreed 70 the mem
oFandum IT the attorney-generai and
John j.. Lewis, acting president of
the United Mine Workers OF Amert-
-. laying down the terms of agree
wont for settlement Of the coal strike.
&he fact In that the operators never
SeArned Of the existence Of that
aQre&unent until after II had been ac-
0npted by the miners at tho Indian
aUolia conference. December 2.
ACCEPTED PROPOSAL
The operators did not accept the
ROrosal of the government, pre-
eeated through Or. Garfield, former
fsel administrator. and referred to in
fsee3dent Wilson's letter of Decem-
esr sih. Under the terms OF this
proposal the mine controversy was 10
- settled on the basis of the five
princirl~s announced ~ DIR. Car
Nod. The application Of ono OF
tlsAse principles determined the four
tsen rer cent advance which Was
GRANTED the miners. The Garfield
psepceAi further provided for the
Establishment OF a board with ad-
vfrcry powers only.
The operators still stand By the ac-
oacssncc Of the Garfield proposal The
,pReridens's letter on December q, re-
kered specifically to II and IL seemed
clear to the minds of the operators that
Il Was the intent of the president that
che Garfield proposal was to be used
~ the basis Of settlement of the WACO
controversy
The operators meyer have been con-
suited in regard To The memorandum
which was drawn by tho attorney gem
cfsl in conference with President Lewis
and Secretary Green. Of the miners' or
EanixAticn.
The memorandum goes far beyond
the Garfield proposal to which they
Assented,
THE operators point out the follow
Ing radical differences between the
the CARRIED proposal and the Palmer
Lewis memorandum which was accent
ID at Indianapolis.
ADVISORY POWERS ONLY.
Fl. The Garfield proposal would have
established board with advisory
powers only. Tho PaImer-Lewis mem
orsndum agreement would establish a
commission not advisory in character.
bnt with full power definitely to fix
coal prices. wages. differenttala and to
determine the details Of working con-
athens within each district covered by
the memorandum.
- The question Of differeDtiais and
Internal working conditions in the
rtany bituminous coal fields affected by
this memor andum are 50 involved and
complicated that complete review.
IN order 10 make an intelligent deci-
sion, wonid be As interyninable task
T!teEH matters sre Of vital imror-
t@nce 70 the coal indurtry. The diff
fArentjAls Themselves are not IN dis
putc,
8. Furthermore the findings OF
the commission contemplated by the
PAlmcr~Lcwh memorandum may lie
made retroactive without limitation
- - time
There are other important diff
fertnces between the Garfield pro-
rosai and the Palmer Lewis Nero
randum which have not been made
clcar 70 the operators np TO this
time. @
The operators repeat that they
have never agreed q the Palmer
IGWN naNuaorandum ana that they