South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-20
PALMER TELLS
SENATE ABOUT
STRIKE ACTION
Concludes Testimony With
Declaration Regarding End
of Mine Difficulties.
OPERATOR GIVES TESTIMONY
BIZ Associated Press:


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1e.-Atty.
Gen. Palmer told a senate coal in
vestigating committee Friday a full
story of his own and the general
governments actions In connection
with the strike Of bituminous min
ers, concluding his testimony with
the declaration that the firm, strong
hand Of the government finally had
forced the miners to yield.
Alfred NJ. Ogle, chairman OF the
executive committee OF the Bitumi-
nous Coal Operators association took
the stand moment after the attor-
ney general concluded and told the
committee that Mr.. Palmer endeav-
ored on Friday, Dec. 8. TO induce the
coal operators TO compromise with
the miners on a basis OF more than
the II percent wage increase sug-
gested in behalf OF the government
by former Fuel Administrator Gar
field.
Continuing. Osle surprised the
committee with the assertion that
Mr. Palmer had told the operators,
Federal Judge Anderson at Indiana
polls, who issued an Injunction
against the strike leaders on the gov
ernment's application. might 'act IN
la characteristic fashion, and put a
lot Of union leaders in tail" thus
precipitating a terrible industrial
situation"
Compromise OF Principle.
we replied" said Ogle, that we
considered the proposal a cowardly.
dastardly surrender of the rights Of
the public and the government We
considered il a, compromise OF prin-
ciples far more important than any
question of the wages Of miners. or
our own profits as operators of coal
mines. We thought 1t a question of
the maintenance OF law and order
in the United States"
Ogle's testimony. given after MT
Palmer, who was before the COM
mittee practically the entire day. had
left the room. came as q climax TO
series Of revelations concerning the
governments movements in the
strike. The operators chairman re-
fused 10 divulge details when first
put on the stand, but finally told his
story after getting permission 10 con-
suit his attorney. Rush Butler who
was also called as a witness.
Chairman F'relinghuysen. Of the
senate committee, indicated after
conclusion OF the hearing that the
investigation would be continued on
the strength of the Information
brought out.
Aided by Questions.
The attorney general aided by
questions from Sen. Townsend, re-
publican. Michigan, took the COM
mittee over the entire ground trav-
ersed by the government in the
strike. After Fuel Administrator
Garfield. who later resigned because
OF the settlement. had suggested.
and the miners had rejected a Il
percent wage increase and a reten-
ton Of the present price OF coal the
government, he said, had prepared
to tight the thing out" Then John
J. Keegan, an attache OF the depart
ment Of labor. brought about sue
cessful mediation. John L Lewis
and William Green. president and
secretary. respectively of the United
Mine Workers, came 20 Washington
OF their own volition. Mr.. Palmer
said. and held two private confer
ences with him I'm one day.
Pres't Wilson meanwhile had pre-
pared a statement Mr.. Palmer said,
and at the second conference, which
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary TO the
president. attended. the miners rep
/ lresentatives "acquieSced TO the presi-
dents proposal" There was no
settlement" OF the strike. Mr.. Pal
mer asserted, but "an arrangement
which finally accomplished the OBJ
ject we wanted, the production OF
coal"
Between the first and second con-
! ferences with the miners union
chiefs. Palmer said Sec'y Of the
Treasury Glass, Director General OF
Railroads Hines and Fuel Admin
strator Garfield had been consulted.
and had approved the arbitration
plans.
Finally, on a train going 20 Indi-
annapolis, where injunction proceed
ings were 70 be disposed OF. Palmer
accompanied by Lewis and Green.
drew up a memorandum specifying
the conditions which the miners sc-
cepted II was this memorandum
which hnally caused Dr.. Garfield 20
resign. the testimony developed, be-
cause OF its terms. II proposed 70
| create a commission Of three with