New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Lewis Says ''Sinister In-
fuences" Conspire to
Prevent Agreement, but
Refuses to Name Them
Secv. Wilson Called
Partisan by Owners
Next Step of Government
To Be Decided at Cabi.
net Meeting on Tuesday
Neu York Tribune
Wa rh,n1ton Bureau

NeW YORK Tribune
va hin 0ton Biredss
WASHINGTON, Nov 22.-Unless
the government brings into the me-
gotiations between the bituminous
operators and miners some new fac
tors or exerts far greater pressure
than it thus far has exerted, the
conference here between owners and
representatives of the workers may
come to an abrupt conclusion next
week, and the country be left to face
the winter with the soft coal produc-
tion not even SO per cent of normal.
The bitter feeling that has devel-
oped between the miners and oper-
ators, and between the operators
and the government, came to a head
to-day when John L. Lewis, acting
president Of the United Mine Work
ers, charged that sinister influ-
ences" which he did not Identify
are at work to prevent an agree
ment, and the operators through
their spokesman declared the atti-
tude Of William B. Wilson, Secre-
tary of Labor, to be partisan on the
side of the miners.
No conference took place to-day
and the two sides stand as they did
last night when Mr.. Wilson once
again failed to get them together.
Mr.. Lewis said the miners would
accept the proposal made by Mr..
Wilson for an increase in wages
amounting to 31.61 per cent over the
existing scale if it were coupled with
a seven-hour day, a half holiday on
Saturday and the understanding
that local conditions and questions
should be left to local adjustment.
Operators Spurn Proposal
The operators refused that proposal
last night, and emphatically said again
to-day they would not accent it The
wage increase backed b. Mr.. Wilson
was based on his figures sn wing the
increase in the cost of living in mining
towns to be 1913 per cent from De-
cember 1914. to June. 1919.
The operators. taking their own pro-
posal for a wage increase of Is cents
a ton, amounting to about 20 per cent,
argued it would more than meet the
increased living costs which Mr. WI son
produced, give the machine miners an
increase of 1l8 per cent. day workers
an increase OF l31.7 per cent and
drivers III per cent over 1914.
eff the government feels the public
must pay more than our figures show"
said the spokesman for the operators,
then we would like to have the gov
ernmcnt say So"
The situation will be taken up Mon
day by Attorney General - Palmer,
Director General Hines, of the Rail-
road Administration; DR.. Harry Gar
field. Federal Fuel Administrator, and
possibly other government officials.
Just what the governm ent can do to
force settlement neither operators
nor miners understood tonight, unless
it assures the operators that an in
creased cost TO them over the increase
which would come with the wage ad-
vance they were willing 10 grant would
be taken I'D by the public.
Issue Up TO abinet
There is not likely to be decision
at the Monday meeting, for if it af-
fects the price of coal it must come
from Dr. Garfield. and there is a de-
clded feeling here that he would not
be willing to assume the responsibility
of putting the burden upon the con-
sumer without Cabinet approval. The
I Cabinet IS TO meet Tuesday and the
governments future course will be de-
! termined then.
II the government fails to bring.
about a settlement, the miners and
operators must return home and work
out their own problems in their own
districts. In some fe ds this would
bring agreements speedily, but in eth
ers weeks might be required. Mr.
Lewis SAID to-day many operators here
are ready TO sign up for their mines
at the miners figures. and if no ad
!ustment can be made on a genera,
basis the plan of separate agreements
must be followed
All through their discussions to-day
the operators aid stress on arbitra-
tlon OF the points in dispute They
feel their tlgures are incontrovertible
on the cost Of living and the sufficiency
OF the wage increase they will give to
meet II, and are willing TO go before
any tribunal on them.
General Strike Plan Hinted
To the charges OF sinister inau-
ences' working to prevent an agree
ment, they declared they knew of none
and on their side intimated the un-
| Willingness of the miners to accent
their propoaal might indicate q desire
to bring about general strike that
would affect all industry.
After the operators had postao11e