Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-28
EVERY PROPOSAL
SEEKING To END
STRIKE REFUSED
Washington Conference Called
To Make New Wage Agree
ment With Miners Fails To
Accomplish Anything.
tsy NoRNrno IouRnAL SPECIAL LEASED wlRsi

tsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WiREl
Washington, Nov 27.-An abrGpt
end came late today to all attempts
to settle the nationwide coal strike by
peaceful agreement,
Miners and operators spent a bleak
Thanksgiving afternoon in embittered
debate over the government proposal
for II per cent wage increase, made
last night by Fuel Administrator Gar
field, rejected it and every other pro-
posal that was forthcoming and then
dissolved sine die.
Participants went home tonight and
where the break left coal conditions,
no one of them, miner or operator,
would say. Likewise in official quar-
ters there was silence
Acting President John L. Lewis or
the mine workers, though refusing to
say one word as to the strike itself,
which theoretically was called off IN
obedience to Federal Judge Ander-
sons injunction holding it violation
of the Lever act for wartime food
and fuel control, scored the govern
ment soundly at the conclusion OF the
conference. So did William Green,
secretary of the miners.
Operators though accepting the
government proposal definitely IN
letter of explanation to DR.. Garfield,
which they made public. intimated
that the government refusal to allow
price increases would bear reconsid-
Grafton.
Much Heated Oratory.
1t was behind closed doors that the
coal situation reached its climax to-
day, after involving the full attention
of the federal government for two
days previously. There was much
heated oratory, but T. w. Guthrie of
Pittsburg, acting chairman of the OPP
orators committee, described the par
liamentary procedure succinctly as he
came out. The operators, by a pre-
arranged plan, notified the miners
committee for the central competitive
field of their acceptance of Dr. Gar
fields plan. @
This the miners promptly voted
down. In return the miners put for
ward a counter proposal, that Secre-
tary Wilson's suggestion for 31.66
per cent wage increase be granted,
and this the operators flatly refused.
For the third time the operators re-
newed their formal offer of arbitra
ton, and this the miners voted down.
Unanimously an adjournment wasl
voted
THE operators are pretending to-
accept DR.. Garfield's proposal, Mr.. |
Lewis said, manifesting scorn and in
dignation as he called the newspaper
men around him in the noisy hall that
was the scene of the all-day gather
ings
"But as they do it they state they
are unable to operate many of their |
mines under it. It would be foolish
for us to attempt to make an agree
ment unless miners are to be given !
work.
Miners Position Unchanged.
"Our position is unchanged We
hold the United States government
cannot break it's word. The pledge of
Secretary Wilson to grant us 81 per
cent increase must be redeemed. In
my Judgment Dr. Garfield and the |
cabinet have committed the most
colossal blunder in the history of our
nation. They are blindly following an |
academic theory, without regard to
justice to the mine workers or effects
on the people of the United States.
Responsibility for the crisis now
confronting the nation must be with |
those statesmen using the powers of
government to oppress and deny JUS
tice to great element of its citizen
ship directly concerned in industry.
II cannot believe the people of our
country will indorse such policy Of
oppression and repression, which |
means continued industrial chaos and |
intense suffering on the part of the |
mine workers and our citizenship"
Questionersa Brushed Aside.
With that, Lewis brushed away all
ouestioners. His associates, however,
confirmed the impression that there
would be no resumption of work in
the mining camps now closed.
Operators less communicative,
went away with varying resolutions.
One or two had reached determina-
ton, they said, to attempt production
regardless of the strikers, but most
of them were in doubt on this point.
Acting Chairman Guthrie indicated
that as an organized body they had
ceased to function and that individual
necessity and inclination would gov
ern their action, though all would
wait a little to see what the govern
ment proposed.
The open letter to Dr. Garfield said
that in view of the serious situation.
the wage scale committee for the CEN
trail field would accept his suggested
basis of settlement, preserving pres
ent differentials."
'At the same time we wish to call