The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-10-29

latter had exhausted every possible ef-
| fort and had pleaded until his throat
ached. 1t was pointed out what q
strike meant and urged the two sides
10 get together, negotiate their diff
fernces, resorting to arbitration only
IN the event that negotiations failed
The important point in the proposal
however. was that the mines be kept
open and the miners stay at work.
The miners and operators had left
the conference room and Secretary
| Wilson, the tears springing to his
eyes, was gathering up his papers,
when he announced that his efforts
and the presidents efforts had fallen
| down and that the conference had ad-
| journcd for good. He brief explained
| the status, but refused to be drawn
| into charges Of bad faith
"The operators agreed to accent the
proposal of the president in it's en-
tircty, Mr.. Wilson said, "and to pro
| coed with negotiations and if they fail
cd to come to conclusion to submit
| the matters still in dispute to arbitra-
ton, the mines to continue in opera
ton pending adjournment.
The miners interpreted the presi-
dents letter as two prop ,sals. They
were willing to accept the first, that is,
to proceed to negotiate. The opera
tors said that having expressed will
ingncss to accept the presidents pro-
posal in its entirety they held them
selves ready to proceed to negotiate
| and arbitratc whenever called upon by
the sccrtary Of labor or by the min
crs' scale committee, and with that
statement withdrew.
"rhc miners remained and cx-
pressed their regret that the negotia-
| tons could not go on, but declined to
| proceed with the negotiations until it
| had been determined whether the re-
suits OF the negotiations would be sue
ccSsful or unsuccessful.
"Thc conference then adjourned
without date"
That was all the secretary would
say, except to explain briefly how the
| miners position worked out
"Thc presidents proposal" he de-
| clarcd, was, first to negotiate second
to submit the matter to arbitration if
| negotiations failed and third to keep
| the mines in operation.
"rhc first thG miners accepted, and
held over the other two.
What is your next step MIR. Viii
son was asked.
| piled, as he saw the last Of his hard
work fall down.
| There was little hope Of settling the
strike when the miners and operators
mot late today after two offers by the
secretary had been rejected. In op-
ening tho melting Mr. Wilson said he
had just come from the White House
with message from the president
urging peace that tho people might
have a bountiful stock Of coal Miners
and operators, sitting in separate
groups, listened closely while the sec
rotary read the following letter fro
the president emDodying his suggcs-
,ions for settling the strike
II have been watching with deep
and sincere interest your efforts to
bring about a just settlement OF the
differences between the operators and
the coal miners in the hituminOus coal
ilc!ds Of the country. Ii is TO be hoped
ina, the good Judgment that has been
exercised by both operators and min
erS in years gfnc in the adjustment Of
their differences will again prevail in
the present crisis.
"All organized society is dependent
| upon the maintenance Of the fuel sup
ply for the continuance Of It's exist
oncc. The government has appealed
with success TO other classes OF work
crS 10 propose similar questions until
a reasonable adjustment could be ar
rived at.
With the parties Of this controversy
rests tho responsibility OF seeing that
tho fuel supply Of the nation is main
tanned. At this time whom tho world
is in need Of more supplies ii would
be cruel neglect of our high duty to
humanity to fail them.
| II have read the suggestion made
by you that the wage scale committees
Of the operators and miners go into