Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-27
CABINET FAvORS ADVANCE.
OF But TAPER CENT TOMEN
NO HIGHER RETAIL PRICES
Miners and Operators
Both Say Terms Are
Impossible.

SeS
Washington, Nog. 27.-With a
majority apparently in favor OF ac-
cepting the proposal Of Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield that wages OF
miners be increased "a per cent
without any increase in the price
Of coal to the consumer. bitumi-
nous coal operators from all parts
Of the country went into session
here today to discuss the govern
ment's offer.
Miners Oppose.
Officials Of the United Mine
Workers of America were not to
meet until late In the day, but ap-
parently there was little change Of
sentiment among them in opposi-
ton to the fuel administrations
proposal. The union men still
were seriously considering q re-
lection Of the offer and contin-
uance Of the strike which already
has brought about q national coal
crisis.
The miners said the governments
offer was less than that Of 20 per
cen. made voluntarily by the oper-
ators last week. To this the oper-
ators replied that the - per cent
increase was based expressly on an
expected increase In the price OF
ooal. Some miners believed q con-
vention Of the United Mine Work
srs' representatives possibly would
be called, to paae hnAllr on I he
Operators Nst Unanlnous.
Some Of the operators apparently
we're no more willing than the min
ers to accept the governments Of
fer, holding that the increased
wages Without an Increase In coal
prices would be unfair and would
result in the closing Of number
Of mines.
All Agencies Fail.
Washington, Nov. 27.-All agen-
cies of the government have failed
~ far to solve the bituminous coal
miners wage tangle, and from the
outlook early today the situation
was as far from adjustment as it
was when the negotiations began.
The last move was made by Fuel
Administrator Garfield, who last
night told the miners and opera
tors Of a government plan of set
tling the dispute by granting the
miners q IA per cent increase In
wages, with the emphatic stipula-
tion that there would be no in
crease in the price Of coal to the
public.
Both Protest.
This brought an outcry from
both the miners and operators.
The miners declared they would
not accept the IA per cent" in
crease and 'that under such a
plan the men would not return to
work" Some Of the more deter
Amined miners asserted feelingly
fhAt they considered the offer an
insult" and before they would &C.
cept 1t they would go back home
and fight 1t out" in the coal fields.
as they considered the strike order
still in effect.
Can't Stay In Business.
The operators protested that the
IA per cent wage increase without
an increase in the price of coal
would force some Of the larger
companies out of business and de-
clared they were ready to renew
the negotiations.
More parleys were held today In
an effort to arrive at some solution
Of the problem which is vexing the
government and causing anxiety
among the public in view Of the
rapidly decreasing coal supply.
Respond to Call.
Topeka, Kan, Nov. 27.-By 9 a
m. today more than 400 men had
responded to Governor H. J. Aliens
cali for volunteer coal diggers. The
applicants are sending in names in
groups, representing organizations
by parties formed in various towns
some Of them in the coal fields and
by individuals.
Legion Men Ready.
From Wichita came q telegram
stating that the American Legion
post of that city has 200 men signed
up and ready to go at once.
Among the volunteers were thu
owners of I'VE steamshovels, who
offered their entire outfits which
the governor said would add yer,
materially to the coal digging pos.
abilities.
The steam shovels, he said, wert
, capable. of mining from 300 to l0(
tons OF coal in q strip mine q day
Judging from the early Response
would say that we will have foul
or flve thousand applications" SAID
the governor this morning. 9Th,
state Is listing the applicants ant
making preparations for transpor
tation. We expect to begin putting
the men to work by Saturday o.
Monday"
Calls Then Strike Breakers.
Pittsburgh. Kan, Nov. N.-vol