New-York tribune., 1919-11-20
Garfield Warns Warning
Factions That ''People
of U. S. Need, Must
and Will Have Fuel
Operators Talk but
Make No Progress
Producers Profit 46 Gents
a Ton in 1913; Average
Paid to Miners $l.5O

of coal famine drew nearer tonight.
with negotiations between operators
and miners apparently at a standstill
A subcommittee of the joint wage
scale committees was in session three
hours, but it was announced after the
meeting that only the general situa-
ton was discussed and the operators
did not submit counter proposals to
the miners demands. The conference
will continue Tomorrow
"No progress was made. The opera
tors submitted no proposals. We are
still in a receptive mood" said John
j. Lewis, acting president Of the
United Mine Workers. as he came out
of the hotel room where the confer
ence was held.
The operators committee remained
in session an hour longer. At the end
Of that time Thomas T. Brewster,
chairman Of the operators committee
in the central competitive field. spoke
enthusiastically, declaring this was the
first attempt at real negotiations since
the miners and operators met at Euf-
falo. For that reason he said only
general matters were discussed.
Hint Received from Garfield
The decision of the joint wage scale
conference to continue its negotiations
through smaller group, in accordance
with the usual custom in making wage
agreements, came after the owners and
workers had heard from Fue. Adminis-
traitor Garfield that as long as the gov
eminent stands "the people of the
United States need, must have, and
will have coal, and they will not be
prevented by anything the operators
and miners may do"
The consuming public, the chief
party in interest in the present con-
troversy, Dr. GARFIELD said, is not in q
mood to tolerate either excessive
price, or prolonged stoppage Of pro-
duction.
The subcommittee is composed of
two miners aid two operators from
each of the four states in the central
competitive district, together with Mr..
Brewster AMI Mr.. Lewis.
Pinch Felt in Cleveland
While the representatives of the
contendng industrial factions we're
marking time here the city of Cleve-
land shut off the coal supply of all in
dustrial plants within its limits except
those C assed as public utilities. Retail
dealers were instructed no5 to seil coal
to ary manufacturing pant with out
obtaining the consent of the city's coal
committee.
At the same time virtually all the
territory south of the Ohio and Po-
sippl River was put on Il wartime
coal-rationing basis, limiting pur-
chases for home use to q single ton.
The situation further was compi-
Gated by unexpe cted walkouts of min
ers in West Virginia, where men who
had gone back since the strike order
was recalled quit again because op-
orators insisted that all contracts with
the United Mine Workers were can
celed. A second strike was called in
Colorado after vain attempt at an
agreement. and many miners who re-
Gently returned to the pits have been
Hines Not Discouraged
Despite Lie dlScOuialn REPORTS, Dl-
rector General OF Rail- loads Hines, wuo
has been conferrinc with regional d.
rectors in Chicago, still believes the
problem is mainly one of judiciously
distributing the coal ON hand and avail
able. He author zed statement assur-
ing the public that there wou be fair
warning of any drastic curtai ment
measures.
The statement made here to-day to
the operators and miners by Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield was largely statis-
tical. 1t brought out that in 1918 the
average cost OF produc ion of coal was
$215 ton, leaving o the operator an
average margin Of 46 cents ton. This
margin, he sid, included interest
charges, selling expenses and Federal
taxes as we'll as profit.
II represent the people of the United
States in a different sense from the
Secretary of Labor" DR.. Garfield said.
"lt is part of Mr.. Wilson's function
to effect conciliation. 1t is my sole
function to exercise those powers con-
ferred on the fue. administration; to
see that an adequate supply of coal
is furnished the people of the United
States and to see that in times of
stress, such as we are still unhappily
in the midst of, the prices asked and
received for coal are not excessive.
1--WE all realize now that in the
great coal industry the public is
partner. At one time the operators
Continued on page eight