The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-24
SLENDER HOPE
STILL REMAINS.
WILSON HOLDS THE
COAL MEN TOGETHER
For Another Days Conference
---Miners Reject Secretarys
Compromise Plan

WASHINGTON. Oct. ga dramatic
apncaI by Secretary Of Labor Wilson.
himself n miner. prevented an open
break tonight between miners and oper.
ators almost ready to go homo attef&
falling to settle the strike OF half a
million soft coal miners, set Tor ten
days hence.
II was near the end Of . long and
heated session at which tho miners
formally rejected the Wilson plan OF
settlement and refused to arbitrata
wages, that the secretary. taking hold
Of a slender thread. brought tho two
sides together and kept them here Tor
another conference tomorrow.
As members Of the two groups. weary
after three days Of argument and wranG,
ling left the meeting place. they re-
fused 10 hazard an opinion as to Whath.
er the strike could be ayerted.
Feeling Of Optimism 49,
In some quarters. however, there was
more hopeful view than heretofore.
Secretary Wilson. bit hoarse after long
pleading with the factions for consider.
alton Of the public rights. actually
seemed more cheerful. Much Of this
feeling was due to the fact that he had
Apcrsuaded the warning factions to make
anothcr attempt to restore peace 10 the
industry at the very moment they wsra
rcady to quit.
The miners rejected and the operaf
tors neither rejected nor accepted my
hrst proposal for settlement Of. thefe
! troubles" Secretary Wilson said tonight.
in summing up the days conference.
They now have before them for con.
| sidcration q proposition submitted BY
ME that they so into conference with
each other. without reservation, ~ II no
demands had been made or refused. haS.
! ing in mind the interests Of their res.
pcCtive groups.
/ The miners arc willing to do that
and tho operators are willing. provided
! the strike order is withdrawn"
Strike Order Stands
! John L. Lewis. president Of the United
; Mine Workers Of America, leading from
the conference room, q group Of his mon.
said:
The strike order stands"
! Thomas T. Brewster. head Of the local
operators association leaving the meet.
Ing with a party OF his assistants, stop.
ped long enough to say:
I'VE are just where we started" M
| But out Of the mass Of conflicting
/ claims there seemed a better chance to.
night that Secretary Wilson might b
! able to bring the miners and operators
together. ~
No Arbitration
All efforts to have the two sides ar.
bitratc their difference fell down. Mr.
Wilson explained that carly in tho mest.
ing the operators proposed to submit the
iGuestion Of increased wages after ex-
piration of the present contract to .
board of arbitration. Only the, question
of wages was to be consid h1t
Lewis rejected II.
I'm the language Of Judge Elbcrt II.
Gary, cannot discuss arbitration at
this time" Lewis shouted. and the talk
turned in other directions.
Mr.. Wilson Of his own accord. sug-
gestcd formally that all the questions
in dispute be- submitted to arbitration,
but both sides rejected 1t 80 quickly
that it looked as II they had reached
the real end Of attempts to bring about
| peace. ...l..
Pleads Tor the People
All the time. however Mr.. Wilson was
breaking into the discussion with pleas
for the people, for some thought OF their
rights, with grim word picture Of
what would come with the shutting
down Of mines and half the country
short OF coal. Then, speaking quietly,
he laid his new proposal before the con-
ference. urging miners and operators TO
sleep over it and return with an inclin-
alton and willingness to give and take.
Agree to Meet Again
The groups separated. Lewis leading
one and Brewster the other, and for half
an hour they talked low and earnestly,
Finally II was agreed TO meet jointly
with the Secretary tomorrow morning.
} The troubles were explained in q word
Thy Mr.. Wilson who said the principal
difficulty was 10 get miners and opera
tors to proceed wholeheartedly to nego-
tiation Of n new wage agreement. -
>! Lewis had concluded a fiery speech In
i CONTINUED ON Page Bt4ht.)