The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-12
ARRANGING FOR
MEETING FRIDAY
Miners and Owners Accept
Wilson's Invitation to
Wage Conference.
NEGOTIATIONS FAVORED
Rather Than Arbitration.
May Be Long Drawn Out,
but Successful.

Washington, Nov. 12.--Final ar
rangements for the governments at
tempt at amicable adjustment of ths
and the operators were to be ar
ranged today by Secretary of Labor
Wilson. Acceptance of the invita-.
ton to attend conference here on
Friday has been made by the leaders
Of the United Mine Workers OF
America and 1t Is said the operators
will make formal acceptance today,
inasmuch as they have Informally
Indicated they are ready for further
negotiations.
Thomas T. Brewster chairman OF
the coal operators scale committee,
| announced today the mine owners
had accepted Secretary Wilson's in
vitation TO meet representatives OF
| the miners here Friday to negotiate
new wage agreement.
| John l.. Lewis, acting president OF
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, already had notified Secretary
| Wilson OF his acceptance. meanwhile
declining an offer from Brewster to
meet the latter's committee here
Monday to negotiate "a contract to
pc in force upon the termination OF
the contract now In effect"
Spokesmen for the miners said to-
oay this proposition could not be
considered for a moment and that
the only way to bring peace to the
coal nelds was through adoption OF
pay scale to take effect imme-
diately.
Speedy adjustment Of dificulties was
not expected by officials here who an
ticipated the negotiations will be long
Drawn out, although all are confident
OF ultimate success. The mine work.
ers leaders are in no pleasant frame
OF mind after calling Off the strike and
they are tnsistent upon their demands
as they have ever been. On the other
hand, the operators insist that the war
time contract Is still In force
To Appoint Their own Board.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson planned
today TO urge the parties to the con-
troversy to appoint their own board for
negotiation when they meet on Friday.
and II was said this plan would be fol-
lowed rather than the acceptance of
board OF arbitration. Leaders 81
the miners would prefer to settle ths
matter by negotiation. but some oi
them believe that the men in the coal
nelds would feel more certain OF uIti-
mate success II the matter were Ieft
to a. tribunal selected by the president
OF the United States and because ~
this 1t may become necessary for tho
conference to call upon the president
to name such tribunal
Watching With Interest.
officials here watching with interest
developments In the coal fields today to
determine whether the men are
going to obey the word of their
J leaders and return to work. 1t was not
expected that there would be a fun
compliance with the order Immediate
ly. but It was said that ali mines would
be in full operation next week, when q
definite plan for adjustment OF differ
ences Will have been made The fuel
| administration and the railroad admin
istration announced today that the re-.
strictions which have been placed upon
the use and distribution of coal will re-
: main In effect until such time as
there is assurance Of an abundant pro-
| duction. 1t was thought possible that
, the maximum prices and the preferen-
tial lists might be kept in force during
negotiations
Original Demands.
, Springfield, H., Nov. 12.-oriqinal
demands OF so per cent. Increase in
wages, slx-hour day and a five. day
"N~Nt WIZ bC PfcScUtcu 10 operators uy
mine workers In the joint scale confer.
ence called for Friday In Washington
} at the instance OF Secretary Of Labor
wilson, according to Frank Earring.
ton, chairman of the miners scale COM
mittee, who came here today en- route
, to. the national capital,
Begin Releasing Coal.
Release of coal to meet emergency
needs was begun today by the railroad
administrations central committee as a
result of the agreement of the miners
and operators to meet Secretary Will
, son for conference on their differences
Director General Hines has instructed
regional coal committees to increase
the quantity released as rapidly as
production is corespondingly restored