Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-20
GOVERNMENT WAS
VICTOR IN COAL
STRIKE ENDING
Attorney General Palmer De-
MES Promises Were Made
to Union Chiefs; They Mere
ly Yielded to Him.
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tsf hoRNIN5 JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIREl
Washington, Dec. 19.-Attorney
General Palmer told senate coal in
yestigation committee today a full
story of his own and the general gov
ernments action in connection with
the strike of bituminous miners, con-
Guiding, his testimony with the declar-
alton that the firm, strong hand of
the government" finally had forced
the miners to yield.
Alfred M. Ogle, chairman of the
executive committee of the Bftumin-
ous Coal Operators association, took
the stand moment after the attor-
ney general concluded and told the
committee that Mr.. Palmer endeavor-
ed on Friday, December 5, to induce
the operators to compromise with the
miners on a basis of more than the
fourteen per cent wage increase sug-
gested in behalf of the government
by former Fuel Administrator Gar
field.
Continuing ,ogle surprised the com
mittee with the assertion that Mr.,
Palmer had told the operators Fed
eral Judge Anderson, at indianapolis,
who issued an injunction against the
strike leaders on the governments
application, might "act in a character
istic fashion. and put a lot of union
leaders in JAIL thus precipitating a
terrible industrial situation"
Rejected the Proposal
"We replied said Ogle, that we
considered the proposal a cowardlyi
dastardly surrender of the rights of
the public and the government. We
consider it a compromise of princi-
pies far more important than any
question of the wages of miners, or
our own profits as operators of coal
the maintenance of law and order in
the United States"
Ogle's testimony, given. after At
torney General Palmer, who was be-
1lxy
tire day, had left the room, came as
the climax to q series of revelations
concerning the governments move
ments in the strike, The operators
chairman refused to diygSlge e., details s,Sl
ly told his story after getting permits
sion 10 consult hts attorney. Rush
siutler, who was slso called az Wit
'Ychairmsn Freiinghuysen. Of the
senate committee, indicated after con-
clusion of the hearing that the inyes-
tigation would be continued on the
strength of the information brought
out.
Palmer Tells Story.
The attorney general, aided by
questions from Senator Townsend, re-
publican, Michigan, took the commit
tee over the entire ground traversed
After Fuel Administrator Garfield,
who later resigned because of the SET
tlement, had suggested and the
miners had rejected fourteen per
cent wage increase, and retention Oh
the present price on coal, the govern
ment, he said had prepared to fight
the thing out" Then John j. kee- |
gan, an attache of the department of
labor, brought about successful medt- |
alton. John l.. Lewis and William
Green, president and secretary. re- |
spectively, of the United Mine Work |
ers, came to Washington on their |
own volition, Mr.. Palmer said, and |
held two private conferences with him
President Wilson meanwhile had
prepared statement, Mr.. Palmer |
said, and at the second conference, |
which Joseph P. Tumulty,, secretary
of the president. attended, the miners
presidents proposal" There was no |
SETTLEMENT of the strike. Mr.. Pal
mer asserted, but IAN arrangement |
which finally accomplished the OBJECT
we wanted. the production OF coal
ferences with the miners union
chiefs, Mr.. Palmer said, Secretary OF
the Treasury Glass, Director General
of Railroads Hines and, Fuel Admins,
traitor Garfield had been consulted
and had approved the arbitration
Finally on train going to Indian
apolis where Injunction Droeeeuine
were to be disposed of. Palmer, ac-
companied by Lewis and Green. drew
up a memorandum specifying the con-
ditions which the miners accepted.
Garfield's Resignation.
1t was this memorandum Whlch
finally caused DIR. Garfield to resign,
the testimony developed, because OF
its terms, 1t proposed to create a
commission of three with power TO
"readjust both wages and prices, ne
explained, while DR.. Garfield thougnt
that "only consultative body" should
be created.
''I knew what the president meant"
Mr.. Palmer said, when questioned by
Senator wnlcott democrat of Della
ware, as to whether the memorandum
of agreement had carried out the pres
ident's Intentions He added under fur
ther questioning that there was no
authority under which the govern
ment could fix wages, but that much
of the agreements force would depend
upon public opinion (which has not
lost its power in the United States
Attorney Butler, called to the stand,
declared that the final memorandum
of agreement between the attorney
general and the miners was "ddamet-
rically opposed" to that of Or. Car
field which the operators had ac-
cepted
''Dr. Garfield never contemplated a
to fix prices, for one ;
thing he said.
Senator Townsend at the conclusion ;
of his testimony, asked for some one
who could speak for the mine opera
tors, and Ogle was called,
After moment of fencing with
|