Arizona republican., 1919-10-22
U. s. INTERVENTION IN M I'VE WAGE DISPUTE IS DEEMED PROBABLE
Failure of Operators And
 Miners to Settle Their Differences May Force
 Federal Action Believed

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-Failure of operators and miners to settle their differences after a four-hour confer ence today with Secretary of Labor Wilson may force the government to step in and prevent the strike of 500,- 900 bituminous coal miners called for November 1.
 Although another effort will be made tomorrow to bring peace to the indus try, the strike tonight loomed big and close at hand and leaders of both sides, speaking frankly and gravely, said there was little hope.
 While the full scale committees rep resenting miners and operators were fighting their battles today behind a closed door. a strike storm ragged in the senate, and federal agencies looked up the law, firmly convinced it would have to be invoked to save the country from untold distress and suffering, with mines shut down and less than a months stock on hand to keep fires burning.
 Leaders Are Reticent
 Filing out of the meeting place, the miners and operators, nearly one hun dred of them, went their separate ways to discuss the crisis, the former led eby John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America and the latter by Thomas T. Brewster, head of the Coal Operators associa- tion. Leaders and members of both groups were extremely reticent. Informed of the attack on the unions in the senate by Senator Frelinghuy- sen of New Jersey, and reports from many quarters that the government might intervene, strike leaders said there was a bare chance of some en- | couraging development tomorrow, but the strike order would stand.
 Secretary Wilson left the meeting without giving the least intimation as to what was in his mind as to hope of settlement
 The two committees in separate groups, filed into the assembly hall of the Red Cross building and sat down l shortly before noon while Secretary Wilson went to the front and without ceremony announced that they had been asked to meet and adjust their grievances. Pleading for immediate settlement of the strike the secretary showed how it would affect the public. how 1t would close industrial plants and stop freight and passenger traf- Tic because of the limited coal stocks | held by the railroads.
 Considers Both Angles
 Pointing out that the matter was one of vital concern to the people. Sec retary Wilson explained that as ex- ecutive officer of the government, en. trusted with the function of mediation in such disputes. he felt that every pos- sible effort should be made to induce the miners and operators to see the importance of early adjustment. The secretary said he gave full weight to the statement of the operators regard ing contracts and to the importance of resembling the strike order and to withdrawal of demands for a 30-hour week, just as he gave weight to the statement of the miners that there must be "a disposition to really nego- tiate" before it would be worth while for them to go into conference. | President Lewis then spoke for the miners. The old wage agreement. he declared, had expired and the opera tors he charged had refused to con- slider a new one.
 The side of the operators was ore sented by P. H. Penna, of Terre Haute Indiana, who charged that the miners
  had violated their agreement, that the operators had adhered to the principles and practices of collective bargaining and that the unions were at fault Ther without consulting the leaders, Secre- tary Wilson suggested an adjournment until tomorrow, as casually as if the conference had planned to run for a week.
 There was no objection, neither side desiring to appear in the attitude of blocking peaceful efforts by a volun- tary mediator. but miners and opera tors alike were surprised. The general feeling seemed to be that the thine would be fought over and settled today The secretary, it was said, indicated a | desire to present the views of the gov. ernment after each side had beer given full hearing.