Arizona republican., 1919-12-20

Alfred NJ. Ogle, chairman of the ex- ecutiye committee of the Bituminous Coal Operators association, took the stand a moment after the attorney general concluded and told the com mittee that MT. Palmer endeavored on Friday, December ,. to induce the op- orators to compromise with the min CTS on a basis of more than the 14 per cent wage increase. suggested in behalf of the government by former Fuel Administrator Garfield.
 Threatened by Palmer
 Continuing. OsIe surprised the
 committee with the assertion that
 Mir. Palmer had told the operators
 Federal Judge Anderson at Indian
 apolis, who issued an injunction
 against the strike leaders on the
 governments application might
 "act" in characteristic fashion.
 and put a lot of union leaders in
 jail, thus precipitatIong a terrible
 industrial situation
 We replied" said Ogle, "that we
 considered the proposal a cow
 ardly, dastardIy surrender of the
 rights of the public and the gov
 ernment. We consider it com
 promise of principles far more
 important than any question of
 the wages of miners or our own
 profits as operators of coal mines.
 We thought it a question of the
 maintenance of law and order in
 the United States.
 Ogle's testimony. given after At torney General Palmer. who was be fore the commission practically the entire day had left the room, came as the climax to a series of revelations the governments move ments in the strike The operators chairman refused to divulge details when first put on the stand, but finally told his story after getting permission to consult his attorney. Rush Butler, who was also called as a witness.
 Probe To Be Continued
 Chairman Frelinghuyse of the sen ate committee. indicated after con cIusion of the hearing that the inVes- tigation would be continued on the strength of the information brought out.
 The attorney general. aided by ques- tions from Senator Townsend, repub- lican, Michigan, took the committee over the entire ground traversed by the government in the strike. After Fuel Administrator Garfield, who later because of the settlement. had and the miners had rejected a IA per cent wage increase, and a of the present price on coal. the government. he said, had prepared 10 fight the thing out. Then John J. keegan- an attache of the department of labor. brought about successful John L. Lewis and Will liam Green, president and secretary eof the United Mine Work CTS. came to Washington on their own volition, MT. Palmer said. and held two private conference with him in one day.
 No Settlement-Just Arrangement
 President Wilson meanwhile had pre- pared a statement. MT. Palmer said. and at the second conference. which Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to the president, attended, the miners rep "acquiesced to the presi- 1ent's proposal There was no set dement, of the strike, Mir. Palmer as- serted, but "an arrangement which finally accomplished the object we production Of coal''
 Between the first and second con 'erences with the miners union chiefs MT. Palmer said. Secretary of the Treasury Glass, Director General Of Railroads Mines. and Fuel Admins -rator Garfield had been consulted and had approved the arbitration plans.
 Finally, on train going to Indiana polls where Injunction proceedings were to be disposed of. Palmer. ac- ID a memorandum specifying the con iitions which the miners accepted. IL was this memorandum which finally caused Dr. Garfield to resign, the testimony developed, because of its erms. It proposed to create a com mission of three with power to read ust both wages and prices'' he ex- )lained, while Dr. Garfield thought that only a consultative bodys should be treated.
 Public Opinion Only Power
 T knew what the president meant sr. Palmer said, when questioned bv Senator Wolcott, democrat. Delaware IS to whether the memorandum of agreement sad carried out the presi- lent's intention. He added. under under which the government ,ould fix wages but that much of the agreements force would depend upor public opinion which has not lost its power in the United States
 Attorney Butler, called to the stand declared that the final memorandum if agreement between the attornev general and the miners was t-diametrf- ally opposed to that Of Dr. Garfield which the operators had accepted.
 ''Dr. Garfield never contemplated a commission to fix prices, for one hing" he said
 Senator Townsend, at the conclu- ion of his testimony asked for some me who could speak for the mine op- Sators. and Ogle was called.
 After moment of fencing with Sen tor Townsend and a conference with Ir- Butler. he proceeded ss"On Friday, December 5. after Dr sarfield's proposal had been rejected " the miners and the injunction pro .eedings were being pushed at Tn lianapoiis,' Mir. Ogle said, members