The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-27
Announce That They Will Abide
By Ruling Of Com
mission
FULL INvEsTIGA-
TI0N INVITED
Central Mine Owners Will Find
Way to Keep Faith In Set
tlement

the operators, 1t was asserted to-
night, by the executive committee OF
the Bituminous Coal Operators asso-
citation in a statement replying to the
declaration last night of Attorney
General Palmer that the government
would not assume that the operators
will break faith" and. intimating that
ways would be found to keep faith in
the. coar strike settlement.
The executive committees state
ment announced that a general meet.
ing Of mine owners from all parts Of
the United States had been summoned
to consider the situation arising from
settlement Of the strike. The place
where the meeting will be held was
not announced but it was said It will
take place as soon as possible, pre-
sun1ably shortly after Christmas
THE, coal operators have always
courted a full investigation Of the
industry" the executive committees
statement said, They welcome one
now. They are whole heartedly eager
to have come out Of this controversy
a program that Will be constructive
and that will insure industrial peace.
'The miners and the operators have
interpreted President Wilson'S letter
Of December In different ways.
Because Of, that fact and the rapid
changes iii the situation: durins, the
last two weeks, 1t has been impossible
to keep the many coal. operators scat
tered over the country, fully advised.
The executive committee therefore,
feels that It is imperative to call q
meeting OF the Representatives OF the
operators from. the several coal fields;
extending from :. Pennsylvania : to as
far west as the State OF Washington:
This meeting .dA-be held as soon as
possihie.s.x =.
IN the meantime steps have al.
ready been taken to gather such facts
and statistics as may be necessary for
full presentation of the operators
case.''
Terre Haute, Ind, Dec. 2s.-In a
statement declaring that the attitude
Of the coal operators Of the central
competitive field has not been changed
by any person III. authority since they
agreed to plan similar to that pro-
posed by President Wilson for settling
the miners wage controversy, Phil
n. Penna,, spokesman for the opera
tors in the wage negotiations of the
past few months, late today indicated
that the operators will abide by the
decisions Of the commission appointed
by the president to arbitrate prices
and wages.
Mr.. Penna stated that the presi-
dents plan for appointment Of COM
mission differed in some details from
the plan agreed upon by the opera
tors and expressed the belief that the
operators should have been consulted
before it was presented to the min
ers He said. however, that it agreed
In principle with the resolution adopt.
ed by the operators.
Chicago, Dec. 2S.-A tentative
agreement applying the IA per cent.
wage increase settlement of the re-
cent soft coal miners strike was made
today by Representatives OF Illinois
coal operators anet miners. Lie abfee-
ment provides for a. fiat. rate OF IL
cents q ton increase for pick and ma
chine mining. Xardsase and. dead
work rates in effect October 81 will
be advanced ID per cont.
Both sides to the conference ex-
pressed dissa tisfaction with the ma
tional settlement and declared that
they would present their objections to
the national. commission appointed by
President Wilson.