Arizona republican., 1919-10-28
DISTRICT LEADERS SOFT
 COAL MINERS INVITED TO
 ATTEND WAGE BOARD MEET
President Lewis Plans Full DeHberation of Strike Situation---Denies Reports of Big Wages" Federal Authorities In Close Touch With Situation---Plan Ac- tion Should Miners Strike

SPRINGFIELD H., Oct. 27,-Con- fronted by the demand of President Wilson that the strike call, which would stop production of soft coal in the United States, be rescinded, John l.. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Workers of America, to- night by telegraph invited twenty-five district presidents of coal producing states and members of the miners scale committee to meet with the in terational executive board at 10 a. m. Wednesday to confront the strike issue.
 The action of Mir. Lewis, he stated, was prompted by desire to move with full deliberation in a situation, the seriousness of which, cannot be gain said.
 Thirty-two members constitute the full scale committee of the central competitive field, which comprises the states Of Indiana Ohio, Illinois and western Pennsylvania.
 District presidents and members of the wage scale committee are being called in," President Lewis said to counsel with the executive board by reason of the presidents statement. When final action will be taken 1 can not presume to forecast"
 Strike Order Still Operative
 MT. Lewis said the strike order was in effect and would be operative Fri day at midnight unless something hap pened meanwhile to alter the situation. The executive board would have au- thority he stated. to postpone or sus- pend the strike order, subject to the Sill of the membership of the union.
 Ready to leave Springfield early to- morrow morning for Indianapolis to assume active charge of the threatened strike of soft coal miners, beginning Friday at midnight, MT. Lewis declared tonight the strike order was stin in effect and that the 500,000 miners in the bituminous field would walk out 10 a man unless the operators made concessions.
 ''The statement of President Wilson opposing the strike has thus far had no results so far as we are concerned ' Lewis said. No word reached him, he stated. from government sources dur ing the day.
 Lewis expects to reach Indianapolis at 2;40 D. m., where he will make prep arations for the meeting Wednesday of the international executive board. He said tonight he expected no develop ments prior to this conference.
 Denies Big Wage" Statements
 Branding statements that coal miners were earning $l0 to sl5 day as absurd Mir. Lewis said the average pay of miners in the bituminous field for the year 1918, which he declared was the best 12 months in mine work ers' annals. was s1, ,22S year. He de- clined to be drawn into a statement as to what the maximum earnings of a miner under favorable circumstances might be, but said the earnings of day men" amounted to between $4.25 and s5 a day. These include track layers. drivers, mechanics and laborers Coal diggers, he admitted, can make more money than that. He explained however, that wages of miners were curtailed by the fact that mines operate on the average of only three pr four days a week. This condition he said, made necessary a shorter day and week hn order to furnish continu- ous employment as embraced in wage demands suggested by miners early in the conferences. Other demands in- clude so per cent increase in wages time and half for overtime. and elim- nation of the strike penalty clause.
 In a statement, issued tonight, he said. to clear up popular misapprehen- sions about exacting what took place in the Joint conferences, MT. Lewis
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