Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-22
CHARGE THEY WERE
DOUBLE CROSSED
Csnfsrsnes u opsrafors Called For
Tussday to Decide on cousss Of
Action - Declare Agreement Made
Was On Basis OF pr. Garnsld's Of
~ and Not That Of Attorney Gen.
ssal Palmer.

eoint0o OUT tOQays nlSne empaTraSS
the comm,ssion appointed by President
Wilson to investigate tho coal industry.
Operators declared the proposal they
had agreed to was the oae proposed by
Former Fuel Administrator Garfield.
The question will be settled tomorrow
in Cleveland, probably, where q con-
ference Of the scale committee has
been called.
DsubIs Crossed, Gay Operators.
Refusal by the executive committee
OF the operators Sunday night to ac-
cept President Wilson's coal commits
sion upset all calculations ~ to the
settlement Of the wage dispute that led
70 the strike OF the bituminous miners.
After . meeting Of the committee. In
which the administration was accused
OF 'double-crossing the operators and
-surrsndering to the miners for politi-
cal reasons" call was issued for .
conference Of the bituminous coal pro-
ducers ct Cleveland next Tuesday to
pass on the question Of accepting or
rejecting the presidents plan Of set
tlement.
Palmer 10 O~nsrs' Target.
The operators complained that while
they accepted the terms OF President
Wilson's letter OF Dec. 8. Attorney Gen.
eral Palmer double crossed them by
settling the strike with the miners at
indianapolis on basis Of the Palmer
Lewis memorsndum Of Dec. 7. on
which the operators never were con-
suited and which extende4 tAa prest-s
dent,A terms to include retroActtvo
wags adjustments and several other
contnncx chanaes consistently opposed
By the mine owners.
~ II aAlso was diyulged that Rembpndt
PcAas was not the choice OF tdS opeDi
ators for representative in the commis.
sion; and 1t was charged that Peale.
as well az John p. White. was named
at the instance of the miners.
And They Object to PsaIs.
Peale, according to the operators.
was subservient to White former pres
ident Of the union, while the two men
were acting as advisers to Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield.
Retroactive wage adjustments will
cost the operators 100000 or more.
which will be collected from the public
in higher coal prices eventually. it was
stated, while settlement on the Palm
er-Lewis terms will destroy the entire
wage structure. and agreement on
prices after the expiration of the Lever
act will subject the operators to anti
trust law prosecutions.
Members Of the executive committee
would not, predict what action the op-
orators would take at Cleveland, but q
number Of them said they would
strongly recommend the rejection OF
tho presidents .commi6sion.
How Operators Feel.
At the close Of the session here to-
day the executive COMMITTEE Of the
operators issued this statement
I'm the light OF yesterdays state
ment OF. Attorney General Palmer. IN
which he says that 1t would be an
amazing repudiation Of their own
statements II tho operators do not &C.
ouiesce in the plan which their official
representatiyes have repeatedly agreed
to- In the settlement Of the coal
strike, the bituminous coal operators
feel tmpelled to restate their attitude
50 that It may be clearly appreciated
by the public.
Attorney General Palmer. IN his
statement Of yesterday. asserted that
the operators had agreed to the men,
orandum Of the attorney general ana
John L. Lewis, acting president Of the
United Mine Workers of America. lay
ing down this terms Of agreement for
settlement Of the coal strike.
Nevsr Heard Of the Mono.
.Ths fact is that the. operators
never learned Of the existence Of that
agreement until after it had, been ac-
e,cepted BY the. miners at the Indian
apolis conference, Dec. ..
"The operators did accept the pro-
posal Of the government. presented
thru Df. Garfield and referred 20 in
President Wilson'S. letter Of Dec. ..
Under the terms Of this proposal the
mine controversy was to be settled on
the basis Of. the five principles an
noupced by DR.. Garfield.
'4The application Of one Of these prin.
ciples determined tho II per cent ad-
vance, which was granted the miners.
The Garfield proposal further provided
for the establishment Of 9 board with
advisory powers only.
s .A0rssd 60 Garfield Plan.
"The operators still stand by the ac-
ceptanca Of the Garfield proposal. The
presidents letter Of Dec. referred
specifically to II, ana it seemed clear
to the minds Of the operators that II
was the intent Of the president that
the Garfield proposal was to he used as
the basis Of settlement Of the wage
controversy.
"The operators never have been con-
suited In regard % the memorandum
which was drawn by the attorney gem
eral In conference with President Lewis
ana Secretary Green Of the miners or
ganixation. sIid tho memorandum goes
Far beyond the Garfield proposal. to
which they assentsd.
The operators point out tho follow
~ S1AaaA d4fesrsncss bstwsaa the
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