Arizona republican., 1919-11-28
NEXT MOVE FUR SETTLEMENT UP T0 GOVERNMENT. All Proposals for Peaceful Settlement Rejected
 At Final Meet
MEN SCORE GARFIELD
Miners Position Unchanged Says Lewis-Operators
 Await Next Move
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ

W OlNf 4NON. Gt.-Au end came today to all attempts to set tie the nationwide coal strike by peaceful agreement
 Miners and operators spent a bleak Thanksgiving afternoon in embittered debate over the government proposal for 14 per cent wage increase. made last night by Fuel Administrator Gar field, rejected it and every other pro- posal that was forthcoming and then dissolved, sine die.
 Corferees Go Home
 Participants went home tonight and where the break left coal strike condi- tions. no one of them miner or opera tor. would say. Likewise in official quarters there was silence.
 Acting President John L. Lewis, of the mine workers, though refusing to say one word as to the strike itself, which theoretically was called off in obedience to Federal Judge Andersons injunction holding it violation of the Lever act for war time food and fuel control. scored the government sound ly at the conclusion of the conference. So did William Green, secretary of the miners.
 Operators though accepting the gov ernment proposal definitely in let ter of explanation to Dr. Garfield, which they made public, intimated that the government refusal to allow price increases would bear reconsid- eration.
 It was behind closed doors that the coal situation reached its climax to- lay, after involving the full attention of the federal government for two days , previously. There was much heated oratory, but T. W. Guthrie, of Pitts burg, acting chairman of the operators committee, described the parliament tary procedure succinctly as he came out. The operators, by a prearranged plan. notified the miners committee for the central competitive field of their acceptance of Dr. Garfield's plan. This the miners promptly voted down. In turn the miners put forward a coun ter proposal, that Secretary Wilson's suggestion for a S1.6e per cent wage increase be granted, and this the opera tors flatly refused. For the third time, he operators renewed their formal of fer of arbitration, and this the miners voted down. Unanimously an adjourn ment was voted.
 Manifests Scorn For pr. Garfield
 The operators are pretending to ac- cept Dr. Garfield's proposal MT. Lewis said, manifesting scorn and indigna- ton as he called the newspapermen around him in the noisy hall that was the scene of the all-day gatherings.
 But as they do it they state that they are unable to operate many of their mines under it. It would be foolish for us to attempt to make an agreement unless miners are to be given work.
 "Our position is unchanged We hold the United States government can not break it's word. The pledge Of Secretary Wilson to grant us 31 per cent increase must pe redeemed m my judgment Dr. Garfield and the cabinet have committed the most colossal blunder in the history of our nation They are blindly following an academic theory, without regard to justice to the mine workers or effects on the people of the United States.
 Responsibility for the crisis now confronting the nation must be with those statesmen using the powers of government to oppress any deny, justice government to oppress and deny justice directly concerned in industry.
 T can not believe the people of our country will indorse such a policy of oppression and repression. which means continued industrial chaos and intense suffering on the part of the mine workers and our citizenship"
 Mines To Remain Closed
 With that, Lewis brushed away all questioners. His associates, however confirmed the impression that there would be no resumption of work in the mining camps now closed. Q Operators less communicative, went away with varying resolutions. One or two had reached a determination they said, to attempt production re- gardless of the strikers, but most o1 them were in doubt on this point Acting Chairman Guthrie indicated that, as an organized body, they had ceased to function and that individual necessity and inclination would govern their act, though all would wait a lit tie to see what the government pro- posed
 The open letter to Dr. Garfield said hat in view of the serious siatuation he wage scale committee for the cen ,ral field would accept his suggested basis of settlement, preserving pres ant differentials."
 At the same time we wish to cal Tour attention to the fact that the acceptance of this increase in wages without any increase in selling prices )f bituminious coal entirely eliminates he profits of a large number ot mines" it continued, "such large number. in fact, we fear the produc- tion of coal will be seriously affected We understand that operating statis- tics for 1919 are not now in your pos 
 lContinued on Page Two)