Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-09
STRIKE CONFERENCE
BREAKS UP IN ROW
Eovernment's Offer o., IA Per
Cent Increase Is Rejected.
~. S. FAILS TO END TIEUP
Goal Mems Farley Adjourns Sine Die
Operators Agree to Accept Gar
fields Proposal, While Lewis
Claims Injustice to Miners.


| Washington, Nov. 28.-The govern
ment's offer of II per cent increase
of wages was fatty rejected by the
coal miners.
As result the conference between
the miners and operators adjourned
lsine die with the settlement of the
wage controversy still Gin the air." No
provision was made for the resumption
of the conference, the miners declar-
Ing that they were going home and
sit tight"
The miners rejection came after the
operators had accepted the govern
lment's proposal as basis for a set
ltlement although they declared that
the increase without raising the price
iOf coal to the public would mean the
loss of profits to a large number of
mines and would seriously interfere
with production.
After The rejection the operators
Rendered a compromise offering to sub
init the entire dispute to a board Of
arbitration. This also was refused by
the miners and the conference took an
adjournment.
Statement by Lewis.
The following statement was dicrat-
ed by Acting President John L. Lewis
of the United Mine Workers:
1.-THE miners and operators joint
conference adjourned sine die. The
mine workers representatives declined
ITO recommend to the miners any ac-
iceptance of the IA per cent increase
offered.
"The operators pretended to be will
ing to grant this II per cent increase,
but in the same breath stated that they
would be unable to operate a large
number of their mines unless they had
an increase in the selling price of coal.
1t would be foolish for us to attempt
Ito make any agreement with the OPP
orators unless their mines were to be
operated.
1.-THE position of the mine workers
is unchanged. We hold that the Uni
ted States government cannot break
ITS word. The pledge given by Secre-
ltary of Labor Wilson to grant q 31.6
per cent increase in wages must be re-
deemed.
"In my judgment Doctor Garfield
and the cabinet have committed the
most colossal blunder in the Industrial
history of our nation. They are blind
lly following an academic theory with
out regard to justice to the mine work
ers or the effects of such theory upon
the people of the country.
Says Justice Is Denied.
1.-THE responsibility for the crisis now
confronting the nation must lie uIon
those statesmen who are using the
powers of the government to Cypress
and deny justice to the great element
of citizenship directly concerned in the
mining industry.
Il cannot believe that the people of
our country will indorse a policy of
oppression and repression which
means continued Industrial chaos. and
intense suffering on the part of the
mine workers and our entire citizen
ship"
The letter sent to Doctor Garfield
by the operators of the central COM
petitive coal field. accepting the gov
ernment's offer, reads:
Recognizing the seriousness of the
present crisis and the urgent need of
the country for coal, we wish to advise
you that, subject to your approval and
conditioned upon the mines resuminr
operations Immediately, the operators
scale committee of the central COM
petitive coal field accept, as a basis
for the settlement of the present wage
controversy and termination of the
strike, the figures submitted by Won
to the joint meeting of operators and
miners held yesterday evening, name
1y, an average increase of ii per cent
TO be granted to all classes of mine la
Dor. such increase to be apportioned in
accordance with the wage bases that
are acceptable to the employees and
employers, thus preserving present
differentials. Otherwise than as above
modified in complete accordance with
your proposal. the present contract in
all its term and conditions TO be con-
tinued in full force and effect until
March 81, 1922.
"We have already notified the miners
to this effect.
Says Profits Eliminated.
"At the same time we wish To call
your attention to the fact that the ac-
ceptance of this increase in wages
without any increase In selling prices
entirely eliminates the profits of a
large number of mines. Such a large
number, in fact, we fear that the pro-
duction of coal will be seriously sf-
fected. We understand that operating
statistics for 1919 are not now in your
possession and we shall rely upon the
government. when such statistics are
properly assembled and presented to
make such adjustments in Nellins
prices as will permit these mines to
make such fair and reasonable profits
as they are entitled to under the Lever
law
William Green. secretary of the uni
ted Mine Workers, said:
Secretary of Labor Wilson statss
that the mine workers are entitled 70