Bisbee daily review., 1919-10-22
Operators and Miners Emerge From Four-Hour Confer
 ence, No Agreement; Lit
 tie Hope for Settlement
Wilson Pleads for Early Settlement
Labor Secretary Asks Ad- journment When It Is Evi- dent That No Good Would
 Result From the Session

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-Failure of operators and miners to settle their differences after a four-hour confer ence today with Secretary Wilson may ', force the government to step in and prevent the strike of 5OO,OOO bitumin- ous coal miners called for Novem- Der l.
 Although another effort will be made tomorrow to bring peace to the industry, the strike tonight loom ed big and close at hand and leaders of both sides, speaking frankly and gravely, said there was little hope.
 While the full scale committees representing miners and operators were fighting their battles today be- hind closed door, strike storm rag ed ill the senate and federal agencies looked up the law, firmly convinced it would have to be invoked to save the country from untold distress and suffering, with mines shut down and less than a months stock on hand to keep fires burning.
 Filing out of the meeting place, the miners and operators. nearly one hun dred of them, wen their separate ways to discuss the crisis, the former led by John L. Lewis. president of the United Mine Workers of America, and the latter by Thomas T. Brewster, head of the operators association. Leaders and members of both groups were extremely reticent. Both Brewster and Lewis refused to dis cuss the situation beyond saying there had been no change in the attitude Of either group.
 Informed of the attack on the unions in the senate by Senator Frelinghuy- sen of New Jersey, and reports from many quarters that the government might intervene, strike leaders said there was bare chance of some en- couraging development tomorrow, but that the strike order would stand.
 Secretary Wilson left the meeting without giving the least intimation as to what was in his mind as to hope of settlement.
 The two committees, in separate groups, filed into the assembly hall of the Red Cross building and sat down shortly before noon while Secretary Wilson went to the front and without ceremon announced that they hady had been asked to meet and adjust their grievances. Pleading for imme- diate settlement, tn esecretary showed how it would affect the public, how it would close industrial plants and stop freight and passenger traffic be- cause of tn elimited coal stocks held by the railroads.
 Pointing out that the matter was one of vital concern to the people. Secretary WilsoWn explained that as executive officer of the government intrusted with the function of media tion in such disputes. he felt that every possible effort should be made to induce the miners and operators to see the importance Of early adjust ment. The secretary said he gave full weight to the statement of the opera tors regarding contracts and to the of resembling the strike or ueT anu lO WllHul dndi OA OVhuSiiAdS ApA a 30-1hour week. just as he gave weight to the statement of the miners that there must be "a disposition to really negotiate" before it would be worth while for them to go into con ference.
 President Lawis then spoke for the miners. The old wage agreement, he
 Continued on Page Two)