Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-11-15
"1mpOssibilities"
Continued from PAGE Ons)

TdQS Sn0J
The secretary said "the stand pat
position taken By the operators here
tofore also is an impossibility."
Although the Washington wage
agreement still is in effect. the sec
retary said the people of the country
did not want to exact the technical
provisions Of bond when the con-
diticns under which the bond was
made have changed"
Figures reveal" he said. that
the cost OF living on the basis of a
family budget has increased from 13
10 7s per cent. while the wages OF
the miners during the same period
nave increased only from "a to so
per cent. Notwithstanding the. terms
OF the bond, the increase in the cost
Of living IS an existing fact and re-
lief should be given on the basis of
Justice
Referring TO restrictions Of the fuel
ADM nistIation. Mr. Wilson said the
government had no desire sto main
tam the maximum price of coal il
that price resulted in injustice to
miners or any one else. but it will
mot consent TO an increase in the
selling price that would do an in
justice 20 the consuming public"
Secretary Wilson said he realized
that some of the operators were
ready 10 call the miners reds, Boil
shevists and bandits" and that some
Of the miners would accuse operators
OF being task masters. coal barons
and profiteers."
Having assumed that" he con-
Guided. consider your orck quarries
what is fair and just to the unions,
! the operators and the public"
Secretary Wilson suggested the
! following plans for reaching an
/ agreement:
! Through joint committees repre-
senting al! districts. BY concurrent
( sessions OF committees from the va
! rious districts. and by having the
central competitive field work out its
adjustment and use that as a basis
! for agreements in the other fields.
! Phil H. Penna, of Terra Haute
/ speaking for the operators of the
! central competitive field. denied they
, had been throwing stones
We are the people who have been
attempting to settle difficulties be-
tween the miners and operators" he
said.
Wen be meeting as friends when
, the people around this part Of the
woods have forgotten we ever lived.
The coal operators have never
assumed a stand-pat position. We
Go not know just what you mean by
that. Mr.. Secretary. We have un-
derstood that the miners demands. to
use your language. Mr.. Secretary.
impossible"
We are as desirous now as ever to
settle Our disputes and We are ready
TO proceed again as We have been al
ways really to effect 4 settlement. You
ask US to accept one Of three meth.
DDS CT settlement and make two Of
them impossible, so that only one re.
mains. Speaking for the operators If
the central competitive field, We are
net ready to give you an answer at this
tine. We ask a recess until morning."
John l., Lewis. acting president of
the United Mine Workers Of America,
asked VIA. basis Mr.. Wilson had Ia
mind for the appointment of the con-
ference committees mentioned in his
address.
What had in mind was the ap-
pointment Of committee from the scale
districts heretofore adopted by the
m ners and the operators said The
secretary.
'HTcera are many opera tor. h.-. -,
rasenting both union and non-union
fields continued Mr.. Lewis. DO ]
understand that they would be allowed
to participate in these conferences or
eliminated from them7"
I'VE have asked them to Join in
the general consideration Of the SUBJ
iect.', said the secretary.
But, Mr.. Secretary. many mem.
bers Of the United Mine Workers are
now working in fields where there
are no contract regulations" Pres
ident Lewis said. will their wages
and conditions be fixed by an agree
ment here?"
mot unless the operators in those
fields are represented. too." the sec
re3ary replied. "Our present purpose
isthe settlement in those fields where
there has been a stoppage Of work. A
mutual agreement can be arrived at
by those who represent the miners.
the operators and the people at
large"
THE mine workers are willing to
extend their Jurisdiction and take in
other fields than the central comoeti.
tive fields here" Mr.. Lewis said "rf
Is a departure from policy. however.
and the mine workers want time 20
consider it,
The conference then adjourned unt,,
tomorrow morning.
Reach Settlement With
1000 Wyoming Miners