Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-12-21
AlIege They Never Agreed
Arrangement wilson
Credits Them With
PRESIDENT WANTS
UNANIMOUS ACTI'
Henry VI. Robinson of Pasad,
Cal, john =. White and Rem
brand peale Are Named asa
Committee Board

Washington, Dec. 20.-Coii
dent tonight with President \
sons appointment of the conn
sion of three to carry out
governments plan for settlen,
of the soft coal strike, the exs
tive committee Of the bitumirI
coal operators association iss
a terse statement flatly deny
that the operators had agreed
or had been consulted in regard
the settlement.
The operators denial was all
at statement in President Y
sons letter to the commission
Henry M. Robinson, PasadI
California, representing the 4
lie; John P. White, represens
the miners, and Rembrandt PH
of Pennsylvania, representing
operators-that the operators
well as miners had agreed to \
adopted" the governments +
posal. 1t was met immediately
a statement from Attorney q
eral Palmer declaring it would
can amazing reputation of IL
own statements, if the operaf
failed to accept the settlena
plan" 4
Mr.. Palmer's statement :
prompted apparently by pressE
ports of testimony yesterday 4
fore the senate coal investigak
committee by Alfred M. Q
chairman of the operators ext
tive committee, it was issued in9
vance of the brief declarations
the operators comittee toni
that the operators had not agf
to the proposals which ended n
strike. Mr.. Palmer flatly 1
tradicted statements attributed8
Ogle and cited statements 4
Thomas I. Brewser, st. III
chairman Of the operators
committee, approving the plan
settlement to show that it \
been accepted by the operators
"No settlement can be had
this matter" the presidents
ter said, after reviewing the
strike situation at length,
and lasting in it's bene
as affecting either the miners,
coal operators or the general Il
lie, unless the findings Of this
are comprehensive in their cha
ter and embrace and guard
every point the public interest
this end, I deem it important
your conclusion should be rea,
by unanimous action"
The president said that on
ceptance of the appointments
would call an early meeting
the commission to meet in WI
ington, $50 that you may lay
plans for your work"
Attorney General Palmer
issued a statement asserting
failure by the operators to 81
70 the governments plan for
ling the coal strike now Nv
De an amazing reputation Of
,wn statements" He added
The operators Official represe
ives have repeatedly agreed
he settlement plan.
Wilson'S Letter.
The text of the presidents
;er to Mr.. Robinson. identical
hose sent to Mr.. White and
oeale, follows:
"My dear Mr.. Robinson:
ION October 6, 1917, with
,fficial approval and sanction
he United States fuel adminis
ion, an agreement (since XII
Is the Washington wage a.
nent') was entered into betV
he operators and the union mi
md mine workers of the so-cs
central competitive bitumii
oal fields composed Of Yves
pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana
illinois, which provided for an
rease in the production Of
ninous coal and an increase
wages to the miners and
workers. from the then exis
Gale of compensation.
"The agreement contained
clause:
Subject to the next bier
invention of the United
Workers Of America, the
yorkers' representatives u
hat the present contract be
ended during the continuation
he war and not to exceed
ears from April I, 1918.
subsequently, OH january
919. this agreement was apprS
y the convention OF the inte
lonal union, United Mine w
RS of America.
Eat the fourth biennial CON
ion of the international uu
United Mine Workers of Anne
cid in Cleveland, Ohio, from
elnber 8 to September %,
ne so-called scale COMMITTEES
lifted a report recomen(
mong other things. that the.
ention demand . so per cent
rease applicable to all classi
ions of day labor and to al