Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-22
OPERATORS STAND
ON GARFIELD PLAN
Assert They Were Ignorant
of Palmer Agreement Un-
til Sent to Miners.

differences between the coal strike
settlement terms proposed by Euei
Administrator Garfield and those pre-
scented by President Wilson through
Attorney General Palmer and even
tually accepted by the miners are set
forth in statement issued by the
executive committee of the bituminous
coal operators, who insist they are
not bound by the latter agreement,
as they have never accepted it's terms.
The formal statement of the OPP
orators. issued late yesterday, fol-
lows:
In the light of the statement of
Attorney General Palmer of yester
day, in which he says that 1T would
be an amazing Reputation of their
own statements if the operators do
not acquicsce in the plan which their
official representatives have repeat
edly agreed to- in the settlement of
the coal strike, the bituminous coal
operators feel impclled to restate
their attitude so that it may be clear
~ appreciated by the public
attorney General Palmer. m his
statement of yesterday assert ed that
the operators had agreed to the m em-
orandum of the Attorney General and
jhhn !" Lewis. cling president Of
tn" United Mine Workers of America.
tor settlement of the coal strike The
tact is that the operators never
learned of the existence of that agree
ment until after it had been present
ed to miners at the indianapolis con-
ference of December Q.
Accepted Garfield Proposal.
The operators did accept the pro-
poSal of the government, presented
through Dr. Garfield, former fuel ad-
miniStrator, and referred to i'll PreSi-
dent Wilson's letter of December s.
Under the terms of this proposal the
mine controversy was to be settled
on the basis of the five principles an
nounced by DR.. Garfield. The applica-
ton of one of these principles deter
mined the | I per cent advance which
was granted tn" miners. The Gar
field proposal further provided for
the establishment of Il board with
advisory powers only.
The operators still stand by the
acceptance of the Garfield propose /.
The Presidents letter of December 6
referred specifically TO it and it
seemed clear to the minds of the op-
orators that II was the intent of the
President that the Garfield proposal
was to be used as the basis of settle
ment of the wage controversy.
The operators never have been con-
suited in regard to the memorandum
which was drawn up by the Attorney
General in conference with Preside t
Lewis and Secretary Green of the
miners organization.
The memorandum goes far beyond
the Garfield proposirI to which they
assentcd.
Differences Reviewed.
The operators point out the fol
lowing radical differences between the
Garfield proposal and the Palmer
Lewis memorandum. which was &C
cepted at indianapolis:
T. The Garfield proposal would hav,
established board with advisor.
powers only. The Palmer-Le wis mem
orandum agreement would esta blisi
Il commission no. advisory in <charac
ter, but with full power definitely II
fix coal prices, wages, differential
and to determine the details of work
ing conditions within each dlstric
covered by the memorandum.
-. The questions of differentials ant
internal working conditions in eh
many bituminous coal fields affecta''
by this memorandum are so involvcA
and complicated that a complete re.
view. in order to make an intelligent
decision. would be an intermina BILE
task. These matters are of vital i'm
,portapce to the coal industry. The
pitfalls themselves are not in dis.
pute.
80. Furthermore. the findings of the
commission contemplated by the
Palmer-LewiS memorandum may be
made retroactive without limitations
as to time.
There are other important differ
ences between the Garfield propose
and the Palmer-Lewis memorandum
which has not been made clear to the
operators up to this time. The opera
tors repeat, that they have never
agreed to the Palmer-Lewis memoran
DUN. and that they still stand upor
their agreement to accept the terms OF
the Garfield proposal. They will unit,
with all the we'll thinking people o
the country, SO that, in the final con
clusion of this matter, all interests
will be faithfully protected ant
problem worked out"