The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-22
Miners Will Settle on Basis o.
Thirty-One Per Cent.
New Phase Causes Conference
POstpOnement Till Monday.
CAN'T PREVENT FUEL FAMINE
Miners May Want Convention
To Confirm Wage Agreement.
Mornings Prospects for An
other Deadlock Routed at Noon.
BULLETIN,

Washington. Nov. 22-Miners are
willing to settle their strike upon a
wage increase of 81 per cent, John
evils. head of the United Mine Work
ers. ammo iced today.
In view of Lewis's announcement
that the miners had decreased their
demands from 40 to 81 per cent, as
asked by Secretary of Labor Wilson, a
Joint conference between miners and
operators set for late today was post
poned until Monday at request of op-
orators.
To Consult Garfield.
Washington, Nov. 22.-Soft coal
operators will not proceed further
with negotiations for a new wage scale
agreement until Fuel Administrator
Garfield has been consulted. they an
nounced today. The joint conference
between operators and miners called
for this afternoon was postponed until
Monday. pending consultation between
the operators committee and Doctor
Garfield.
I'VE are awaiting Doctor Garfield's
pleasure said Phil H. Penna, member
of the operators committee.
Washington, Nov 22.-Bituminous
coal operators in the central competi-
tive field declared today that Secre
tary Wilson's proposal to the joint
wage scale committees yesterday had
served only to widen the breach be-
tween the operators and miners.
There are only a few more words
to say and they will be said very Soon,'
declared Thomas T. Brewster chair
man of the operators, before entering
the meeting of the operators scale
committee 1t was understood that
Secretary Wilson had proposed to the
miners and operators yesterday an in
crease Of 27.12 cents ton for coal
diggers and $1.5S per day for day la
borers Some operators said this was
wholly unsatisfactory to them.
After the scale committee adjourned
the operators would make no formal
statement but some of them said pri-
Vately they would go into session late
today with the miners representatives
with a definite policy. John L. Lewis,
acting president of the U. M. w A,
would not discuss Mr.. Wilson's propos
al, saying that it was agreed that hap
penings at the conference at which
Mr.. Wilson's offer was made were to
be regarded by both sides as conf
Dental.
Chicago, Nov. 22-Additional shut
downs OF indus: rial plants, mainly in
the central west today were in pros
pect as the appr 4Iimately 425, 600
gan their fourth week of idleness, and
the operators miners wage scale con-
ference at Washington remained dead
locked.
More encouraging reports from West
Virginia Colorado and Washing; on
were received. but from the other soft
coal fields no indication came of an
intention to resume work With the
supply being shortened daily, how
ever. it was agreed among officials
that if disaster was to be averted,
something must be done quickly to
add to the relatively small quantity of
fuel now being brought out.
In that connection it was pointed
out that the shortage probably would
not be relieved Immediately upon an
agreement at Washington by the wage
scale conferees. There is a rumor that
the miners before returning to work
generally would await approval of q
convention of two thousand union
delegates to be summoned after the
settlement terms were announced.
In Deadlock Again.
Theoretically the operators and
miners today were just where they
were when the conference was called
in an effort TO settle their differences
on wages and working conditions for
the miners. Actually however. it was
believed, progress had been made, and
that an agreement shortly would be
reached.
THE breaking of the ice" on both
sides. when each faction of the dispute
modified their proposals. was taken as
an indication that both were willing
to give and take" in an adjustment
of the differences that have thrown
fCOntinued Pa0e Two