Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-10-25
Miners Turn Down
Continued from Page ons)

cIafeo, was, nr9t, 10 neSouates SeCouo'
to submit the matter to arbitration IL
negotiations failed; and third. to keen
the mines in operation.
THE first the mine,s accepted and
held over the other two for considera-
ton later"
"wnat is your next step7" Mr.. Wilson
was asked.
Down to the automobile" he replied
n he saw the last Of his hard work fall
down.
There was little hope Of settling the
strike when the miners and operators
met late today after two offers by the
secretary had been rejected. In open
ing the meeting Mr.. Wilson said he had
just come from the White House with
. message from the President urging
peace that the people might have q
bountiful stock of coal. Miners and op-
orators. sitting in separate groups. lis
tened closely while the secretary read
the following letter from the President.
embodying his suggestion for settling
the strike;
I have teen watching with deep AMI
sincere interest your efforts to bring
about Q Just settlement Of the differ.
ences between the operators and the
coal miners in the bituminous coal field
OF the country. 1t Is to be hoped that
the good judgment that has been exer-
cised by both operators and miners In
years gone by in the adjustment of
their differences will again prevail in
the present crisis. All organized so.
eiety Is dependent on the fuel supply
FOR the continuance of it's ex stence. The
government has appealed with success
10 ether classes Of workers to postpone
similar questions until a reasonable ed-
5ustment could be arrived at
With the parties of this controversy
rests the responsibility Of seeing that
The fuel supply Of the nation is main
talned. At this time when the world
Is In need of more supplies it would be a
cruel neglect Of our high duty to hu-
arity TO fail them
I have read with interest the sugges-
hon maze by you that the wage scale
committees Of the operators and miners
30 INTO conference without reservation
1cr the purpose of negotiating an
agreement as though no demands had
bsen mace or rejected, having due re-
card to the interests Of their respec-
tive groups l am in accord with that
suggestion.
40 tody OF men knows better the de-
ta!ls. .ntr 'cacies and technicalitise of
INNING than do the miners and opera
'oFs' No body of men can work out
'ha fetaiis of the wage scale on>a more
edui lie Easis. Their judgment woul,
n Quite be based upon a sum total
OF know ledge Of their industry. What
ever their differences may be, no mai.
Ter how widely divergent their view.
10 nus may be from each other, it is 4
uulS that they owe society to make an
earnest effort to negotiate those differ
ences and to keep the mines Of our
country in operation.
After all. TIE public interest in this
matter is the paramount consideration
OF the government and admits Of no
other action than that of considerable,
OF peaceful settlement of the matter
as suggested by you. If for any reaso,
the miners and operators fail to com
10 mut:l understanding the interest,
OF inc public are of such vital import
ahee IN connection with the productio,
OF coal that 1t is incumbent upon ther,
10 refer the matter in dispute to a boari
OF arbitration for determination and tn
continue the operation Of the rnines
pending the decision OF the boa I'd"
Inc operators accepted the Pres.
oent oner in toto" Thomas T. Brew
s'ers. head of the Coal Operators. As.
soc.ation. announced after the confer.
ence mad been in session more tha,
Two hours and had heard the Pres,. !
oehts proposal. The operators with |
drew from the meeting to permit Sec
retary Wilson to confer with the miners
with view to obtaining their accen.
ance
hihers ana operators separated to
consioer the Presidents proposal.
ana a1ter the latter accepted il "in
'oto as THOMAS T. Brewster. head
oi the coal operators association an
nounced, they withdrew and left Mr.
"nson TO wrestle with the miners.
Ofhcial Washington, beginning IN
realize the grim horror of coal
strike. was bombarded TONIGHT with
eonh'ctins claims as to which side
"as responsible. 1t turned, however.
70 "nat Mr. Wilson had dictated at
the hnal break up as the legislation.
without knowing the next move. An
nouncement by President Lewis that
tne strike would begin at the time
caaeo caused a hurried rush to find
out no" much bituminous coal there
10 on nand and how long it might !
last' once the mines shut down. The
nrst reports were discouraginr. all
.nough dealers and brokers estimates
nave indicated that the supply with
proper care. might last a month.
inomas T. Brewster, Chairman of
.ne Coal Operators Scale COMMITTEES
late last night isued the foIlow;n-
statement: 0"'s
The operators accepted Pres,den.
Whson's proposal to resume neeotia
t'ohs ior a wage scale and to subrrit
70 aroitration any points which !
couio not be agreed to, the mines m |
De Kept at work during negotiations
Inis the miners refused, thereby |
breaking of the negotiations and
making the strike inevitable.
fhe refusal Of the miners fo .c.
cept or consider any of the pronos;.
tions submitted. including the final
proposition from President Wilson IN !
submit all matters to arbitra tio;n
demonstrates their determination
that the coal supply Of the Tinted
states will cut off unless their do
mands are granted in full. Mr.. Levis
is running true to his statement thati
the government cannot .ton