New-York tribune., 1919-11-15
Secretary Wilson Asserts
Proposed Scale Would
Not Be Fair to Other
ID Departments of Labor
Operators Berated
For standing Pat
Plan for Wage Committee
for All Fields To Be
Taken Up at 10 O'clock
NeW Yorh Tribune
IHO h uUfn1 R,frcou

Wa h ngton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The
government, through Secretary Will
son, Of the Department Of Labor,
to-day made it clear beyond misun-
derstanding to the bituminous coal
operators and miners concerned in
the recent strike. that its prime pur-
pose in calling them TO conference
was 60 bring about the speediest pos
sible adjustment OF their differences
which would do justice to both sides,
but which would above that consid-
Grafton protect the interests Of the
American people.
In a speech opening the confer
ence. Mr.. Wilson spared neither the
operators nor the miners, declaring
fatty the demands of labor for a sin
hour day, & fve-t}ay week and 3 so
per cent wage Increase were impos-
sib,e, and that the operators had as
sumed "stand-pat" position in
tuHiI NcSOJldClOlS.
Demands Held Excessive
at is only fair to say to you now
at the beginning of this conference" +"
said the Secretary to the miners, that
a thirty hour week in the present in
dustrial condition Of the country and
the world is impossible
''The 60 per cent wage increase is
an impossibility A SO per cent wage
increase would put the miners out of
line with the other workers of the
country.
But" he said later, turning to the
operators, II want to say TO you that
the standpat position taken by oper-
ators is also an imnossibility.
Recognizing these facts, we should
get down to something that will be
just and fair to the operators, just and
tar to the miners and just and fair
10 the public as whole"
scores Of operators and miners filled
the room, but few showed emotion as
the Secretary turned from one to the
tude which brought on the recent walk
out. Whether they liked it or not the
miners kept silent, and John l.. Lewis,
acting president of the United Mine
W orhcrs, sat quietly in the front row
OF the auditorium. under the speaker's
table, his ace imperturbable, putting
now and then On tne stump of cigar
Only One Operator Objects
Among the operators the snnech
must have told, but they, too, remained
quiet. Y. 7. Brewster, chairman of
The committee of operators of the cen-
tral competitive field, remained just as
l,rpa: sive as the miners leader. 2. H.
Penna, an operator, was the only one
IN the conference who openly resented
the Secrctary's remarks
IN his speech the Secretary offered
81 suggestion for the quick considera-
tion of the problems involved through
wage scale committee Of operators
and miners representing each Of the
fields which would proceed to agree
upon basic rates for their respective
districts. allowing the matter of de-
tails TO be worked cur by the districts
themselves. Neither the operators nor
the miners were willing to accept this
proposal without separate deiberatiou
Hmong themselves, and the conference
adjourned until tomorrow at 10 o'clock
give them an opportunity to study
the suggestion.
The miners had q two-hour meeting
mediately after the conference ad-
lourred. but Mr.. Lewis declined to say
tonight what conclusion was reached
The operators a;et tonight, but prob
ably will NOT make their decision pub
Tic until to .n:or'cw's meeting.
Secretary Willing To Be Advised
The Secretary. before the meeting 4 J.
journed, said he would yield on this
point if a more speedy method Of reach
ing an adjustment were found. and in
view of this fact this detail of the con-
ference was not regarded Of the first
Importance
The sprl, of the meeting was not bell
ligerent. NJ. Wilson stood a the door
and shocl hands with all the miners
and operators he knew. When Lewis
entered the hall there WAS some hand
clapping from his followers. and when
William Green, secretary Of the United
Mine Workers, walked down the aisle
NJ. Brewster, spying him, leaned over,
shook hands and said:
Hello, Bill" smiling broadlv. To
which Mr.. Green replied. also with a
smile, Hello. Tom"
Secretary Wilson said he had asked
the conference not simply because
there has been dispute in the mine
fields, out because the world sti. Vas
passing through q great crisis.
We are STILL he said, ain a period
whore we need the benefit Of cool.
common counsel rather than OF con-
iiiet, There is 40 SET, Of men any
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