The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-22
DEADLOCK over
COAL UNBROKEN
Head Of Operators Opposed
to Labor Secretary's
Solution.
FINAL WORD DURING DAY
Breach Only Widened, Says
Brewster-To Settle on
81 Pct. Basis Predicted.
FINAL WORD DURING DAY

Washington, Nov. 22.-Bituminous
| coal operators in the central competi-
tive field declared today that Secre-
tary Wilson's proposal to the joint
scale committees yesterday had
served only to widen the breach be-
tween the operators and miners.
There are only few more words
to say and they will be said very
soon." declared Thomas T. Brewster,
chairman of the operators, before en-
tering the meeting of the operators
scale committee.
1t was understood Secretary Will
son proposed to the miners and oper-
ators yesterday an increase of 27.12
cents ton for coal diggers and $1.5S
per day for day laborers. Some oper-
ators said this was wholly unsatis-
factory to them.
A statement OF the operators posi-
tion was expected after the meeting
of the scale committee and before the
negotiations with the miners were re-
sumed late in the day.
John l.. Lewis, acting president of
the United Mine Workers of America,
would not discuss Mr.. Wilson's pro-
posal, saying that 1t was agre L that
happenings at the conference at
which Mr.. Wilson's offer was made
were to be regarded by both sides as
confidential.
Optimistic View.
Springfield, ILL.,, Nov. 22.--"E,xpect
favorable settlement tonight at 81
per cent. Indications are men ill
be back to work in few days"
The above telegram from Stephen
Sullivan, chairman of executive board
from Illinois District No. S. who is
now serving on the coal miners wage
scale committee in, Washington, was
received at the miners sub district
headquarters today and is the first
indication seen here of an early set
tlement of the coal strike.
After the scale committee ad-
journed, the operators would make no
formal st tement, but some of them
said privately they-would go into ses-
sion late today with the miners rep
reSentatiyes with u definite policy. -
Gcvernrient Must Act.
Peace in the coar wage controversy
must come by government action.
This was apparent today as both the
miners and the operators held fast
to their positions and the deadlock
seemed unbreakable.
The operators and miners have un-
til next Tuesday to determine whether
they will settle their troubles them
selves or shall allow the government
to in. If the controversy is not
settled by next Tuesday, when Pres-
dent Wills ms cabinet meets, drastic
government action is sure to follow.
Secretary of Labor Wilson was ex-
pected today to make another effort
to secure a peaceful settlement,
. Unrest in Both Camps.
Both camps were having difficulties
today maintaining peace within their
own fields. Among the miners there
were some of the more radical who
wanted to break off negotiations and
return to their homes and amona the
operators there were those who de-
cided that further negotiations were
futile.
There was general impression,
however, that the stout statement of
both sides that they would yield no
further were rot sincere, but were
merely efforts to force the other side
to yield.
The operators are openly worried
over state action in taking over the
mines, and the miners are not en-
tirely pleased with this possibility.
While there were hopes that COM
promise might be reached today, it
was generally believed that both
sides would stick until the last mo-
ment and would not yield until the
of the government
seemed momentarily imminent.