New-York tribune., 1919-12-08
Coal Conference
4 Close Secret
Euen Garfield Vas Not
Told That President
Had Called Leaders
Neto York Tribune
WASHINGTON Bureau

WASHINGTON, W Dec. IA complete
settlement of the coal strike by the ac-
ceptance Of compromise proposed by
President Wilson is expected to result
Tuesday, when the scale committee Of
the United Mine Workers of America
and A. Mitchell Palmer, representing
the government, meet in indianapolis.
Acting President John L. Lewis and
Secretary William Green of the miners,
who accepted the Presidents proposal
and called the meeting Of the scale
committee after secret conference
with Attorney General Palmer and Jo-
seph P. Tumulty, the Presidents secre-
tary, yesterday afternoon and last
night. returned to Indianapolis this
afternoon, after having remained in
seclusion here all the morning.
Attorney General Palmer, Assistant
Attorney General c. B. Ames, who rep
resented the government in filing the
injunction proceedings against the
miners in indianapolis, and corps of
Department Of Justice attaches left
early this evening for Indianapolis to
be present at the meeting of the scale
committee.
Secret Kept From Garfield
Details Of the Presidents compromise
were zealously guarded at both the
White House and the Department of
Justice, not even DR.. Garfield, the Fuel
administrator, being advised of the
G ~ pr> 1o%a
not at the conference, and neither was
he advised of the presence of Lewis
and Green in Washington until the an
Palmer at l2:55 o'clock this morminr. %aminsl
DR.. Garfield expressed surprise that a
compromise had been agreed upon. He
declared his position had not been
changed; that he stood pat on his dec
!aration that the IA per cent increase
IN pay to the miners was adequate to
meet the increased cost of living, and
that the government would not coun-
tenance any increase in the price of
coal to the consumer.
Mr.. Palmer's announcement Of the
conference and the decision of the
union executives to place the Presi-
dents offer before the scale committee
Tuesday gave no inkling of the terms
embodied in the compromise. 1t is as
sumed that the Presidents proposal
provides at the outset for an imme-
date abandonment Of the injunction
proceedings brought by the govern
date return of the miners to work is
supposed to be required Of the strik-
ers, with perhaps some concessions in
the hours of labor and conditions that
are to surround the workers.
New Board Provided For
1t is believed the question Of a
greater increase than. ID per cent
agreed upon by the government was
left open by the President, with the
promise that consultative board, such
as has been suggested by DR.. Garfield,
will be named Immediately to investi-
gate all phases Of the wage question
and evolve some scheme of pay that
could be adapted to all mines Of the
country.
1t was stated to-day that if the Presi
dent proposes higher rate of wage
increase than Ia per cent it would con-
stitute a clear Reputation of Fuel
Administrator Garfield and the position
taken by the government since the pro-
nquncement of November 26, when the
miners fatty refused the IA per cent
offer. 1t was recalled, however, that
the Administration already has repudi-
ated Secretary Of Labor Wilson, whose
offer of 81 per cent increase was side
tracked when the II per cent proposal
was made.
Representatives of the operators in
Washington were not consulted by the
Administration officials in framing the
compromise. The announcement BY the
Attorney General appearing in the
morning papers to-day was the first
intimation the operators had that
steps had been taken by the govern
ment to effect return of the miners
to work. The presence of the union
executives in Washington was not
known by the operators, whose repre-,
sentatives hero assert that they have