South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-02
GARFIELDPUTS
PRIORITY COAL
LIST IN EFFECT
MINERS WOULD
RAISE H. c. |.
Attorney General Calls Upon
Public to Keep Calm
During Crisis.
Bv Associated Press

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Dec. ATTY
Gen. Palmer called upon the Amer
lean people Monday night TO re-
fuse to be stampeded by threats Of
lack of coal into concessions which
viii insure unreasonably high prices
in all commodities for at least three
years to come"
A statement OF the governments
attitude was made by the attorney
general in a telegram TO the cham
Der of commerce at Moberly. Mo,
from which had come q request
that another conference Of operat-
ors and miners be called.
Mr.. Palmer opposed further con-
ferences, saying wage increase pro-
posals by Or. Garfield equalized the
average miners wage with the pres
ent high cost Of living. without in
creasing the price of coal This, he
said, was fair 10 the miners and
protected the public.
Make Living Higher.
"The cost of living is now at the
high point" Mr.. Palmer said. ITO
grant these demands Of the miners
would make the cost Of living still
higher. The new wage conference
would run three winters and. there
fore, would maintain a higher cost
of living for substantially three
years Such a situation cannot be
tolerated.
I'm addition to this, DR. Garfield
suggested a consultative body TO in
vestigate more completely the
whole situation, to be composed of
representatives in equal number OF
the miners and operators, and 70 be
presided over by the secretary of
the interior Such a body would
investigate, among other things, the
profits Of the operators. IT these
should be found TO be unreasonably
high, the public should receive the
benefit in a decreased price of coal,
after the miners have had their
wages finally adjusted on a fair
basis I understand this plan is ac-
ceptable 10 the operators. If the
miners return to work and agree
to this plan, a way would be
found Immediately open for perma-
nent settlement.
Coal Being Mined.
In the meantime, however, the
operators have posted the advance
in wages proposed by DR. Garfield.
so that working miners viii imme-
diately receive the benefit OF this
increase. The production Of coal
now closely approximates so per-
cent of normal and have conn
dence that a sufficient number Of
miners Will comply with the wishes
Of their government and respond to
the needs Of the people, to increase
production in the near future to a
point which will supply the demand
if economy and conservation in in
dustry are employed.
ANY other plan 20 reopen nego-
tiations for a new wage scale be-
tween the miners and operators
would be futile and would delay
rather than advance production As
long as the leaders of the miners
organizations believe that unlawful
strike will force the public into a
condition OF suffering and loss
which Will compel further increases
Of wages, continued conferences on
the subject will only result in influ-
encing miners not TO return TO
work.
THE situation calls for the stead
fast support by the public Of the
governments position as announced
by Dr. Garfield Tho public should
refuse 10 be stampeded by threats
OF lack OF fuel into concessions
which viii insure unreasonable
high prices in all commodities for
at least three years TO come"