The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-25
Presidents Advisers Tackle Sum
in Statistics This Morning.
Final Answer May Be Order to
Operators To Pay.
MORE FACTORIES CLOSE DOWN
Miners in None of Fields Have
Changed Minds.
Car Shortage Caused by Hold
ing Reserve Fuel on Tracks.

Washington, Nov 25. President
Wilson's cabinet went into session to-
day determined to bring about a set
tlement of the coal strike which has
kept 100000 bituminous coal miners
idle since November l. Fuel Admin
istrator Garfield attended the meet
ing.
Attorney General Palmer, strongly
endorsing the statement of principles
made by Garfield to miners and OPP
orators late yesterday, declared that
arriving at a settlement of miners
wages was wholly matter of arith-
metic now"
Secretary of Labor Wilson said 1.-The
atmosphere needed clearing" and in
timated that today's meeting would
bring about such Qualification.
The problem of arithmetic" Pal
| mer explained, is to figure the differ
ence between increase in wages min
ers have received since 1913 and the
increase in the cost of living since 1918
and to give the miners wage boost
equal to the difference between the
two.
Shortly before p. M, the cabinet
recessed until $40.
Secretary of Labor Wilson said that
things are not settled yet
Neither Fuel Administrator Garfield
nor any cabinet member will hold fur
ther conferences with the head of the
miners or operators, during the recess,
it was stated.
Meanwhile, John Lewis, president
of the United Mine Workers and
Thomas T. Brewster, representing the
operators association of the central
competitive coal field, will be at a
hotel here awaiting the results of the
cabinets mathematical exercises. If
the cabinet fails to solve the problem
the joint conference of operators and
miners may be broken off, operators
indicated.
Another alternative is the appoint
ment of federal commission by
President Wilson to attack the prob
lem which, simple tho it seems, has
baffled the best brains among the
miners and operators since July Sew
eral officials have worked the prob
lem out individually. But the answers
are all different.
More Plants Closed.
Closing of additional manufactur-
ing plants in the middle west with
others placed on a further curtailed
fuel ration, and lessening of produc-
ton even in the mines which have
been worked since the strike of BIZ
luminous coal miners went into effect
rs days ago, was in prospect today.
From none of the great production
fields came an indication today that
the miners had altered their DISPOSE
ton to await an agreement by the
I
ington. In Wyoming and Oklahoma
there was a prospect of production
being resumed. and in West Virginia,
where the greatest quantity of fuel
| has been brought out since the strike
started. state troops were ready to
curb alleged threats of radicals and it
was expected the loss of production
, reported yesterday would soon be re-
| gained.
Causes Crime Wave.
| The Wyoming miners were to return
! today after a one-day strike. and in
! Oklahoma, Governor Robertson pre-
dicted mining operations would be
started again on the state prison farm
either today or tomorrow. Indiana
| factories and public utilities today
were operated on a greatly reduced
basis. Steps to conserve the short coal
supply were more drastic in the Chi
cago vicinity, where many plants have
closed. A wave of crime that followed
cutting off of street illumination in
| Chicago caused revocation of that
! order. Enough fuel for 25 days, ii
used only for necessities remains in
| Chicago it was stated.
An alleged shortage of the mines in
West Virginia and Kentucky of a suf-
ficient number of cars to remove the
| fuel being brought out there or which
could be mined was said by E. H. De
| Confined Page Two.I