Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-11

Indianapolis. Ind, Dec. 10.--The coal
miners strike Is ended.
With only one dissenting vote the
general committee of the United Mine
workers of America in session here
this afternoon voted to accent Preei-
dents Wilson's proposal for immediate
return to work pending final settle
ment Of their wage controversy with
operators by commission to be APP
pointed by him.
kilograms were sent out to-ntcht
to the 1000 locals of the union by in
ternational officials OF the mine work
ers instructing the men to return to
work Immediately. Full instructions
with regard to the agreement will be
sent out Tomorrow morning.
Operators tonight predioted full re-
sumption Of operations Friday and
shipment of coal from the mines be-
ginning Monday morning
Miners, operators and government
OFFICIALS alike We're highly gratified
over the settlement tonight and all
sides appeared confident Of final
satisfactory settlement of the fight by
! the commission
SETTLEMENT JUST IN TINE
The ection to-day ends te-up Of the
coal industry of more than five weeks
duration and one which was more far
reaching in it's effects than any other in
the history of me country As a result
of the strike 4 country was fast ap-
proaching a complete shut down of in
dustry and widespread suffering among
IT'S 100,Ooo.0On inhabitants
The decision of the miners came after
many hours of debate in which the radical
element in the general committee made
incendiary speeches against operators
and others interested In settlement os the
question and for a time threatened to
defeat efforts to settle the strike at this
time. The conservative element led by
Acting President John L. Lewis and
Secretary-Treasurer William Green, gain
ed control of the situation this morning
and succeeded in putting down practically
all opposition by the time the question
came TO a vote.
CONCESSION TO RADICALS
One concession was made to the radicals
The convention agreed to the calling of a
general convention of the miners at a
future date, at which time the action of
and reasons for the general committee
will be fully explained The opponents OF
acceptance of the Presidents plan made
their fight principally on the theory that
only a general convention of the mine
workers had power to call off the strike
Members Of the general committee to-
night steadfastly refused to make public
the name of the delegates who cast the
one dissenting vote.
q PALMER'S STATEMENTS
Two statements were given out fol-
lowing adjournment of the conference
by Attorney-Gener a. Mitchell Palmer
who first submitted the Presidents pro-
posal to Acting President Lewis and
Secretary-T Treasurer Green at a confer
ence in Washington last Saturday and
who came to indianapolis Monday to
await the outcome of consideration Of
the plan by the miners general COM
mittee.
Mr.. Palmer's first statement expressed
his qualification at the decision of the
United Mine Workers and commended
Mr., Lewis and Mr. Green for their wise
and patriotic action" The statement
follows:
THE coal strike Is settled as the gov
ernment wanted it settled. When Messrs
Lewis and Green came to see me Satur-
day l re-stated what the governments
position had been from the beginning and
insisted on their acquescence. They
finally agreed to it. They have now
persuaded the officers of their organiza-
ton that the situation calls for COM
pliance with the courts order and the
governments wishes. and | am certain
that all the miners In the country will
cheerully acquiesce in the decision of
their leaders. | desire TO publicly COM
mend the wise and patriotic action of
Mr.. Lewis, Mr. Green and their asso-
ciates. ! am, of course gratihed at the
outcome, which is one the entire country
will approve. Mining will be fully re-
sumed at once. the danger of distress
and suffering during the winter is
passed. the authority % the govern
ment has been recognized and upheld
the supremacy of the law has been estab-
lished. and a precedent of incalculable
value has been set for the peaceful.
orderly and lawful adjustment of indus
trial disputes"
A supplemental statement issued to-
night follows:
The miners at their meeting this
afternoon accepted the Presidents pro-
posal exactly as written, and | under
stand the operators committee have
announced their acceptance of IT. 1t
provides for the immediate general re-
sumption of operations in all districts
upon the basis which obtained on Oc-
tober 81, 1919, except as to wages.
which are to be IA per cent higher
than at that date, This means that the
men shall be taken back to work in all
mines in the positions and upon the
terms or their contracts Of employment
then existing and II is confidently eX-
pected that the mine owners will accede |
10 the governments earnest request