New-York tribune., 1919-11-23

the Joint conference set for this after
noon Mr.. Lewis said:
This is an unjustifable, a criminal
delay. 1t is just the sort of delay we
nave been meeting during the weeks
we have been attempting to reach a
settlement. There are some indi-
viduals and interests openly working
against settlement Men are haunt
ing the corridors of this hotel attempt
ing to prevent any sor of comprom-
ise"
Mr.. Lewis was asked whether he
meant operators or people outside the
coal industry.
"Some are coal operators and others
are entirely outside of the mining in
dustry." he replied, "but they all want
10 see the strike continued.
I'VE have made three final propo-
sails" Mr.. Lewis went on. 1--WE are
willing to accept the figures of the
Secretary of Labor as to the amount
OF increase. In other words, we will
agree to accept his suggestion that
wages should be increased 31.6. per
cent over the present scale, which
would meap 2712 cents a ton adance
to the miners.
Seven-Hour Day Defended
ain addition, we insist that a seven
hour workday. with Saturday half holi-
day. be granted, which is equivalent to
Secretary Wilson's former proposal Of
an eight hour bank-to- bank day, with a
Saturday half holiday.
"Our third proposal is that internal
conditions and questions affecting local
districts be referred back to those
districts"
Pressed to identify the men he said
were haunting the lobbies" to per-
petuate the strike. Mr.. Lewis said he
did not want to name them.
"But' he added. "they are fragrant
ly and openly advocating disagree
ment. A government agent is aware of
the activities of one OF these men, in
particular. and has been watching him.
think this man is subject to criminal
prosecution for conspiracy.
Mr. Lewis insisted, however. it was
not for him to identify this man,
although he admitted he knew his
Mr.. Lewis was told that in some
quarters there was criticism of the
fact that there was unanimous re-
sponse to the orders of the national
mine workers officials when the strike
was called. but the miners had failed
10 return in large numbers after the
order was cance led, by these same
officials in compliance with the Federal
mandate. Attention was called to his
statement that 1--WE are Ill AMERICANS
and cannot tght our government"
Action of Miners Applauded
We have obeyed every legal re-
quirement," said Lewis. I'VE under
stood that the government proceeded
IN this injunction on the assumption
that this was strike from the top
and that if the officers cancelled the
strike order the men would go back TO
work The officers cancelled the strike
order, and the men did go back to
work, thereby demon strating that it
was not an officers strike, but strike
Of the men themselves. They are stand
ing magnifcently for relief to be given
them so they may live decently and
their wives and children may live de-
Gently. There is no violence there is
no disorder These $50, 900 men are
standing nobly by their guns waiting
for the relief which must be given
them y"
The statement made by the operators
sea committee of the central competi-
live field authorized by Thomas I.
Brewster, the chairman, was as fol-
lows:
I'VE consider Secretary Wilson'S fig
uros are absolute Y partisan. They are
based on the wrong premise, being
founded on the old pick mining rate
instead of on the modern method of
machine mining. More than so per
cent of the coal in the central COM
petitive field is now machine mined.
Wilson's Figures Question ed
Secretary wilson says, in figures
submitted to us yesterday the cost of
living has increased so per cent over
1914. If we grant the raises that he
proposes, machine miners will receive
men on day wage viii receive an in
crease Of 1$l per cent. Drivers who in
1914 received s2.Sf day now receive
S5 and 10 whom we offered Sc a day,
will receive Ill per cent increase.
These figures We regard as impos-
sibe. We have gone our limit in Of
fering the 20 per cent advance. We
can go no further unless the govern
ment tells us to do So
1--WE do not feel that one party out
of three should be allowed to fix the