Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-20

n9oLlnB DCO- <1AeNAANS General Palmer told a senaie coal in vesagating committee today a full story Of his own and the general gov c1nments actions in connection with the strike of bitumirious miners con ciuding his testimony with the decia- rs9on dlat the firm strong hand of the government finally had forced the miners to yield.
 Alfred M. Ogle, chairman of the executive committed Of the BitunSp7 ous Coal Operators Association, took the stand q moment af,cr the attorney general concluded and told the com mittee that Mr. Palmer endeaVored on Friday. December ,. to induce the coal operators to compromise with the miners on basis of more than the 1s per cent wage increase suggested in behalf of the government by Form CT Fuc, Administrator Garfield.
 Continuing. ogle surprised the com mittee with the assertion that MT. Palmer had told the operators Federal Judge Anderson at Indianapolis, who issued an injunction against the strike leaders on the governments applics tion. might act in d characteristic fashion, and put lot of union leaders in jail thus precipitating terrible industrial situation"
 We replied" said Ogle, that we considered the proposal a cowardly, dastaryiIy surrender of the rights Of the public and the government. We ccnslfcred il a compromise of princi- pies far more important than any question of the wages Of miners, or our own profits as operators of coal miues. We thought it a question of tho naintenance Of law and order in the United St.Ltes".
 Ogles testimony, given after At tOrney General Palmer. who was be- fore the committee practically the en- tire day. had left the room, came as the climax to d series of revelations concerning the governments move naen;s in the strike. The operators chairman refused Co divulge details when first put on the stand, but fin- ally told his story after. getting per mission 10 consult his attorney, Rush Butler. who was called as d witness. Chairman. E'relinshuysen, of the senate committed. indicated after con elUsion of the hearing that the inyes- dgation would be continued on the strength of the information brought out. .f.F l.s
 The attorney general aided by questions from Senator Townsend, re- publican. Michigan, took the commit tee over the entire ground traversed by the government in the strike. Aft CT Fuel Administrator Garfield, who later resigned because of the settle mert, had suggested and the miners had rejected a IA per cent. wage in- rease and retention of the present prioe of coal; the government, he szid, had prepared to fight the thing out Then Jonn J.. Reagan, an at- taehe Of the department of labor, brought about successful mediation. John L.. Lewis and William Green, acting president and secretary, re- Bpecfively, Of the United Mine Work era. came 10 Washington on their own voiition, Mir. Palmer said, and held two private conferences with hifn In One day.
 President Wilson meanwhile had prepared a statement, Mir. Palmer said and at n1e second conference, which Joseph r. Tumulty, secretary to the president attended, the miners rep resentatives ''acquiesced 10 the presi- dents proposal" There was no set tlement" of the strike. MT. Palmer as ecrtedf but 'sn arrangement which fnaily accomplished the object we wanted. the production of coal'.'
 Between the first and second con feEeuceS with tnc miners union chiefs Palmer said Secretary Of the Treasu. IT Glass. Director General of Railroad, Hines and Fuel Administrator Gar. field had been consulted and had an. proved the arbitration plans.
 Finally, on train going to Indian. &polis, where injunction proceeding! were 10 be disposed of Palmer ac. cOEnpanied by Lewis and Green, drev up q memorandum specifying the con disiOns which the miners accepted. 1 was this memorandum which linall, caused Dr. Garfield to resign. tn, testimony developed, because of it terms. IL proposed Co create a com mission of three with power t ''readjust both wages and prices" h explained while Dr. Carfel, thought that .only conslltativ body" should be created
 T knew what the president meant. Mr. Palmer said. when questioned b Senator Woloott, democfat, Dela' ware, as 10 whether the menoradur of agreement had carried out tb presidents intention. He added un der further questioning that ther was no authority under which in government could fix wages but ina much of the agreements force wou1 depend upon public opinion, "whic has not lost it's power in the Unite States"
 Attorney Butler when called 10 in stand, declared that the final memo rsRdrm Of agreement between the at forney general and the miners wa -diametricsHy opposed to that of b 1erfield, which the operators had ae eepted. .'
 ''Dr. Garfield never contemplated commission to ike prices, for on thing" he said.
 Sena.or Townsend at the conclusio Of his testimony, asked for some on who could speak for the mine operai ors, and Ogle was called.
 After a moment of fencing wit Senator Townsend and a conferent with Br. Butler, he proceeded.
 "On Friday. December g., after D Garfieid's proposal had been reiecte by the miners and the iniunctio proceedings were being pushed at h dilanapolis,'' Mir, Ogle said "menbe, of the coal operators executive an myself were called in for talk vii the attorney general in his offire.
 He said that we must have son figure for a wage advance above II 1f per cent suggested by Dr. Carrie which we would be willing to offer if miners in order to settle the situf fton. The government was not el Eagcd in compromising its stand b, had some difficulties.
 s-The injunction proceedings we coming. 10 q head at Indianapolis ( True s9av, he told us. and they we RfraN thai Judge Anderson would a