The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-11-21
HIGHER WAGE
FOR THE MINERS
NOW CONCEDED
OFFERS Is CENTS PER
TON JUMP in SCALE
Advance Declared Inadequate
By United Mine Workers
Representatives

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. - Though
operators end miners of the central CON.
pctitivc fields remained hard locked all
day today in their neEut atons for now
sale contract, prospects for an agrrc-
mrnt that would settle tn" coal strike
were considered brighter tonight than
at any time S.nCe the strike WAS called:
The operators offered TO the miners
representatives, flat increase OF II
cents n ton on coal mind, and % per
cent increase for day workers. J"hh
l.. Lewis, acting president OF the Nine
Workers of America UutwardIy SlampSu
the concession as wholly lnad'Quate. but
both sidoS plainly took III" offer as 1
breaking Of III" ice and an opening toF
trading tomorrow.
Meanwhile. the government continued
to hold hands off and Fuel Admin strA-
tor Garfield took no steps openly ~
ration or restrict coal consumption.
To Moderate Demands.
President Lewis. Of the mine workers,
after the close Of the long session to-
day. said he considered that the opvr-
atOrs' proposal had contributed nothing
To the settlement of the dlftcrcncc.,.
but Mt the same time indicated that the
miners were preparing 10 some down
q few degrees in their demand FOR 81
hours a week and 60 percent Increase.
The increase the operator would give
they Spontaneously arrange 70 take axe
back IN inrrSasSd sS Gharfs Swfs |" rhen ihSy
haven't talked the question: of hours
at all. II is not necessary 10 take up
the six hour proposal. We nave many
of our men who work nine and ten hours
a day Gusler present conditions. because
tho present eight hour day in many
mines is merely basic theory and not
an actual fact"
Brewster Silent.
Thomas T. Brewster. chairman OF tho
operators scale committees. refused to
discuss the proceedings. but the cGmpro
mise cffcr made oy tGG %is "pSl",i1rS apsi"rimtcs
The proposed wage advances arr tmt
absolute maximum to be offered, W.
Guthrie, member Of the operators wax
scale committee, representing w Nc''y'I" "
Pennsylvania. and George IS iarll ,"r
OF Illinois. spokesman for the ep'F4'nt
sal dtonight. Failure on the part Oh 'iG
miners to accept the proposition w"uiG
mean mediation by tht government
Guthrie said. ,,l
nj rho time il leaves the mines Wou'u
bc increased from 3J TO 40 cents per
Ton as a result of the offered advance
bsa declined TO speculate aS TO no"
much might be added by mlddlemcn ?''
FIRE tho coal reaches tho consumers
i Tho noSition taken hy the OPERATORS
representatives was that their "ticr WHt
sirItly in line with the StitcmehtS "i
Secretary OF Labor Wilson ana u
administrator Garnelu' ~ ','' ~ =
data. submitted to the wax scale com
mittco on wednesday. they said, showed
there was lt,,le pr"1 left to to the c"n,s @pT, or
aacb ron Of coal. and that any waG'
advances must be absorbed in increase cJ
prices OF fuel. Likewise they p3in'Su
ont. DIR. Garti'ld made II clear lht'
big increase in coal prices would not Dc
tolerated. ,o,.,. ,,i,r
DR.. Garfield conferred late today WIZ. VI,
but - !
- totcmcnt as To what feature oil TN
coal situation, II any was discussed.
Commenting on the fact that nrr the Gr' ~,
hours, Mr.. Lewis declared that Secretary
VE wilson. during negotiations here in o., o.,
tobor had offered thG miners ,hG timr an S'th th'
n,incr enters the min until he lcaNrH
and that t was chinCh Ci,bi we bTnr w5r' d"> n%
cept nothing less An m risnI Ign n"mI Mould '; "
! rnuiyalcnt to seven hours Of actu'
work in the mines.