The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-11-21
STATE OPERATION
ALARMS COAL men
Back To Mines Order" Elk.
pected-Covernment
May Act


miners in the Wyoming district after
returning to work, were persuaded by
group of alleged radicals to walk
out again, according to report re-
ceived here late today from Rock
Springs, Wyo. The effect and scope
of this action is uncertain, according
to railroad officials who have started
an investigation.
Washington, Nov. 1S.-The gov
eminent will take a hand in the ne
gotiations between the wage scale
committees Of the mine operators and
the miners tomorrow.
The operators have not met the
miners in conference since Saturday,
and as the national coal situation
is suffering from the delay, action
is deemed imperative. The coal sit
uation was discussed along with other
labor matters by the cabinet today.
Instead of Secretary of Labor VIII
son, who, as mediator. brought the
warning elements together on the re-
scinding of the strike order, DR.. Har-
ry A. Garfield, United States fuel
administrator, will step in in behalf
of the government.
DR.. Garfield has summoned the
representatives of both the miners
and the mine operators to meet him
tomorrow morning. DR.. Garfield is
expected to express the attitude of
the government regarding the ne
gotiations and to urge the conferees
to arrive at q speedy settlement of the
disputes.
Operators See Danger.
The decision of Governor Allen, of
Kansas. for state operation of mines
has injected a new element into the
situation. BY the operators 1t is re-
garded as a precedent which is in
danger of being followed by other
states, if not by the national govern
ment. Neither state nor federal gov
eminent operation of the mines is
desired by the operators.
The action of Governor Allen caus-
ed II. w. Taylor, president of the Ma
! tional Coal Association, who has Kan
sas mine interests, and Fred W. Luz
kens, to call upon Judge C. b. Ames,
of Attorney General Palmer's office
late to-day.
Before seeing Judge Ames, Mr..
/ Taylor and Mr.. Lukens said that
there was no objection to the posi-
ton taken by Governor Allen provid-
ed that offers of premiums or bonuses
| to the miners, which would affect
negotiations in Washington were not
made.
The coal operators said that If the
state of Kansas operated its coal
mines the miners should work under
the present agreement with the un-
derstanding that any settlement to
their benefit made here in Washing
ton should be retroactive.
After the conference Judge Ames
said:
"The Kansas situation as reported
to us up to this time requires no ac-
tion by the Department of Justice.
Acting President John l.. Lewis, of
the United Mine Workers, said today
that Governor Allen had wired Alex
ander Howatt, president of the Kan
sas mine workers, offering a six-hour
day and a five-day week to the Kan
sas miners. Mine operators, howev-
er, said they did not believe" that
Governor Allen had made this offer.
Lewis said that the Prick Coal 4
Coke Co.. of Pennsylvania, had re-
sumed operations with $4,000 men
and had put in operation an eight
hour day bank to bank" This, he
added, is equivalent to seven hours
per day at the working face"
There is positively no reason why
the operators and the government can
not offer immediately to the miners
substantial increase in wages and
material shortening Of the working
day" said Lewis. THE Telegram OF
Governor Allen and the action OF
Frick Coal a. Coke Co., shows this
can be done.
Waste of Time.
1T is a criminal waste OF time and
resources to continue thus. The
country Is now losing daily produe-
ton OF 2.OoO. 900 900 tons OF coal
We have Information that the
miners are being prosecuted In West
Virginia. Tennessee. Kentucky, Ala
hama. Colorado. Utah and New Mex
leo, which are partly union fields. We