Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-11-28
After Bitter Thanksgiving De-
bate, Operators and Miners
Close Meeting.
NEXT STEP IN THE
SITUATION UNKNOWN
Further Steps from Government Are
Looked for But Doubt Is Express
ed as to What These
Will BE.

end came late today to all attempts
to settle the nation wide coal strike
by peaceful agreement
Miners and operators spent bleak
Thanksgiving afternoon in embtter-
ed debate over the government pro-
posal for a Ia per cent wage in
crease, made last night by Fuel Adj
ministrator Garfield. rejected it, and
every other proposal that was forth
coming and then dissolved sine die.
Participants went home tonight
and where the break left coal strike
conditions, no one of them, miner or
operator, would say Likewise in
official quarters there was silence.
Acting President John l.. Lewis, of
the mine workers, although refusing
to say word as to the strike itself,
which theoretically was called off in
obedience to the federal court in
junction holding it violation of the
Lever act for wartime food and fuel
control scored the government at the
conclusion of the conference. SO did
William Green, secretary Of the mine
workers.
Operators, although accepting the
government proposal, in letter Of
explanation to Dr. Garfield, which
they made public, intmated that the
government refused to allow price
increases would bear reconsideration.
1t was behind closed doors that the
coal situation reached it's climax to-
day, after involving the full atten-
ton of the federal government for
two days previously. There was
much heated oratory. but T. w
Guthrie, of Pittsburgh. acting chair
man of the operators committee des-
cribed the parliamentary procedure
succinctly as he came out. The opera-
tors by pre-arranged plan notified
the miners committee for the central
competitive field Of their acceptance
of DR.. Garfield's plan. This the mine
workers promptly voted down. In turn
the miners put forward counter
proposal that Secretary Wilson's sug-
gestion for 81 per cent wage in
crease be granted and this the opera.
tors refused. For the third time the
operators renewed their formal offer
Of arbitration and this the miners
voted down. Almost Immediately
an adjournment was voted
Lewis Is Better.
"The operators are pretending to
ACCEPT DR.. Garfield's proposal Mr..
Lewis said, manifestng scorn and
indignation, as he called the news .
paper men around him in the Uttered
and noisy hall that was the scene Of
the all-day gatherings. "But as
they do it, they state that they are
unable to operate many of their
mines under it. 1t would be foolish
for us to attempt to make an agree
ment unless miners are to be given
work. Our position is unchanged.
We hold the United States govern
ment cannot break it's word. The
pledge of Secretary Wilson to grant
us 81 per cent increase must be re-
deemed. In my judgment DIR. Gar
field and the cabinet have committed
the most colossal blunder in the his
tory of our nation. They are blindly
following an academic theory, with
out regard to justice to the mine
workers or effects on the people of
the United States.
Responsibility for the crisis now
confronting the nations must be with
those statesmen using the powers Of
government to Cypress and deny JUS
tice to great element of it's citizen
ship directly concerned in industry.
II cannot believe the people of our
country will endorse such policy OF
oppression and repression which
means continued industrial chaos and
intense suffering on the present
mine workers and our citizenship"
With that Mr.. Lewis brushed away
all questioners. His associates how
ever confirmed the impression that
there would be no resumption Of
work in the mining camps now closed.
Government to Act.
Operators, less communicative,
went away with varying resolution.
One or two had reached a determine
ton they said, to attempt coal pro-
duction, regardless of the strikers,
but the most of them were in doubt
on this point. Acting Chairman
Guthrie indicated that as an organic
ed body they had ceased to function
and that individual necessity and In
clination would govern their action,
though all would wait a little to see
what the government proposed.
Although officially all of the pro-
ceedings today were in wage scale
cmmittees of operators and miners
for the central fields, all semblance
of sectional discussion was dropped.
All districts of the United States
were represented at the final out
come and the action taken was ma
tional in. its bearings.
Secretary Green of the mine work.
ers accused DR. Garfield Of doing
great injustice to million miners
- ~s->~es