The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-11-21
OpERATORSAND MEM
AGAIN C0NFERR|hG|
SECRETARY WILSON PROPOSES
THREE PLANS ron sETTLE-
MENT COAL TROUBLES
OLD AGREEMENT Is IN FORCE
Mediator, However, Declares People
Of United States Are Net "shy.
locks" and VIII Not Fierce Con-
tract Under New Conditions

Washington. Nov. i5.--Demands Of
coal miners for . 30hour week and
. 90 per cent increase In wages and
sn unyieiding position by the operators
alike were declared impossible" by
Secretary Wilson IN opening yesterday
the conference called TO bring peace
10 the bituminous coal fields Of the
nation. To obtain this peace the sec
Rotary proposed three plans Of proce-
durr.
Declaring that the Washington wage
agreement still IL legally In force MIR.
Wilson told the operators and miners
that the people Of the United States
were not "Shylocks' and do not want
10 exact "the technical provisions Of
bond when the conditions under
which the bond was made have
changed" lilo added that ~ any great
change II made In the contracts the
people Of the United States are the
ones who will have to pay" and
throughout his remarks emphasized
the public interest In the coal settle
ment.
The three proposals expected 10 aid
the three factions In arranging the
new wage agreement were set forth
by the labor secretary ~ follows:
neutrality-suspicious. through joint
wage scale committees representing
NIL districts.
Second Negotiation through con-
current sessions Of committees from
the various districts:
Third - Negotiations first Of m
agreement In the central competitive
field and then Of agreements for other
fields with that OF the central district
an basis.
After hearing Secretary Wilson. the
conference adjourned until Q o'clock
today 10 permit the miners and oper-
ators to- Discuss separately the plan
which would be most acceptable to
each.
Discussion In the miners caucus
which followed the conference session
hinged on the question whether OPP
orators representing both union and
pon.union fields would be included In
The conferences. and the effect any
agreement reached by the conference
might have IN those fields where the
miners do not have contracts with the
operators. Although officers Of the
United Mine Workers refused To make
any statement following the meeting.
II was learned that the plan for n
nation Wide conferences was favored.
but II any proposal " agreed 10, Sec.
rotary Wilson will be asked 10 make
clear 20 the conference that the rights
of organized labor are To be- protected
In those districts where the mining
unions are not recognized by the coal
operators.
The operators. however. ltd not look
with favor on an agreement covering
All fields. The Washington agree.
ment, for the first time, the operators
expiration Of contracts between oper-
ators and miners In all parts Ut the
country. Fear of the power this ar.
rnngemcnt gives the workers 10 bring
about a nation wide strike wns OK.
pressed by the operators. who indi.
Gated desire 10 return to the old
plan Of baxins all wage scale contracts
On the agreement reached In the cen
trial competitive fields.
Owing TO the likelihood OF protract-
I'd discussion on the scope Of the con.
ference before even the demands OF
the miners are brought into issue.
many ON both sides Of the controversy
predicted yesterday that tho sessions
might continue for several weeks,
The operators continued Ia session
hntil late hour last night and their
conference broke up without anuoune-
Ing conclusion as 70 the proposals
.uads by Secretary Wilson. r. T.,
brewster. chairman Of the committee
from the competitive field. said, how
ever. that before todayas session. the
operators would be ready With some
plan for the Joint session to pass ON.
SEVEN THOUSAND WvoMiNo