The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-22
Coal Operators Are Ready to Negotiate
Denying T hat Former Agreement Binds Them to Palmer-Lewis Plan, Coal Operators Say They Stand Upon Acceptance of Gar field Proposal
BY Associated Pres


 Washington, December 21.--Ceal op- orators of the United States. tnrongh their executive committee, explained further tonight their reasons for fusins to participate in the govern mcnt's plan for settling the bituminous coal strike.
 Renewing the denial that previous agreements had bound them to accept the governments plan, the operators asserted that while they were bound by and had agreed 10 accept strike settlement proposals made by Dr. Chr field. former fuel administrntor. the government proposal, as accepted by the miners. differs yitaiIy from that of the Garfield plan.
 The insistence of the operators on the stand left open tonight the pos sibility, it was held, thai the commits sion named Saturday by President Wilson and given by him power 10 fix wages and prices of coal necessary to sustain wages might be unable to function. The executive committee did not say, however. that operators would stand aloof from the commission in it's investigations and decision, but lett the question open, to. be settled probably at a meeting Tuesday la Cleveland. Ohio where general scs- sion of the scale committed, central competitive field and other operators generally has been called.
 HESITATE THEIR STAND
 The operators. in formal state ment tonight, said: 'It would be an amazing repudiation of their own statements if the operators do not acquiesce in the plan which their of- fiof1 fa 1,ax. no|t |t.aIl " agreed to in the settlement of the coal strike the bituminous coal operators feel impelled to restate their attitude so that it may be clearly appreciated by the public.
 Attorney General Palmer in his statement of yesterday, asserted that the operators had agreed to the mem orandum of the Attorney General and John l.. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Workers of Aperica, lay ing down the terms for agreement for settlement oft the coal strike. The fact IS that the operators never learned of the existence of that agreement un- til after it had been presented to the miners at the Indianapolis confer ence of December g.
 The operators did accept the pro- posal of the government presented through pr. Garfield. former fuel ad- ministrator, and referred to in Pres O. Under the terms of this proposal the mine controversy was to be settled on the basis of the five principles an- nounced by Dr. Garfield The applica- ton of one of these principles deter- mined the If per cent advance which was granted to the miners. The Gar- field proposal further, providing for the establishment of the board with advisory powers only.
 ",The operators still stand by the acceptance of the Gerfield proposals The Presidents letter of December referred specifically to it. and it seemed clear to the minds of the op- orators that 1t was the intent of the President that the Garfield proposal was to be used as the basis of set clement of the wage controversy
 OPERATORS NOT CONSULTED
 The operators never have been con- suited in regard to the memorandum which was drawn by the Attorney General in conference with President Lewis and Secretary Green of the miners organization.
 The memorandum goes far beyond the Garfield proposal to which ths operators assented.
 The operators point out the fol- lowing radical differences between the Garfield proposal and the Palmer Lewis memorandum which was accept ed at Indianapolis:
 '1. The Garfield proposal would have established a board with advi0uey powers only. The Palmer-Lewis mem. orandum agreement would establish . commission, not advisory in character, but with full power definitely to fix coal prices. wages, differentials and to determine the details of working
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