Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-27
OPERATOR ACCEPT; MINERS WILL REJECT
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SSst VI HSCSSSitleS-
The fuel administrator was emphatic
In asserting that the public should no.
be required to pay any more fo- co..,
4 price raise will not be justified by
IL per cent wage advance and DR..
Garfield went on to say that the oper-
ators have been and still are making
large profits which were allowed for
the stimulation Of production during
the war but are no longer tolerable.
He clearly Indicated that the IA per
cent wage raise is to come out Of the
mine owners profits without any fur
Their tax on the consumer.
Mr.. Lewis began a bombardment Of
DR.. Garfield as soon as the latter had
ended his statement.
DO understand you correctly to
say that your judgment as to the In
crease the miners should receive Is IL
per cent?' asked Mr.. Lewis.
"Yes." replied DR.. Garfield. That is
the average"
May I ask you II you gave the min
tics on the subject?" Mr.. Lewis con-
tinued.
NO" said the fuel administrator.
I'VE asked neither the operators nor
the miners"
when the miners ask for bread
don't you think they are entitled to a
hearing r. Mr.. Lewis went on. when
the miners compiled with tho court or
der they did so with the understand
Ing that they would be given honest
consideration. Why has that not been
done7'
u think It has" DR.. Garfield an
swered.
Quotes Wilson's 81 Per Cent Offer.
I'VE were advised that Secretary
Wilson represented the cabinet and the
president" continued Mr.. Lewis. He,
acting under that authority, offered
the miners an increase Of 81 Per cent.
That was his idea as to the necessities
OF tho situation. May now ask if
this government intends to repudiate
Secretary Wilson'S action"
you are putting your questions in
q way that to answer them yts or no
would give a wrong impression" DR..
Garfield parried.
Il am asking you as a public official
whether the government Intends to re-
pudiate the action of Secretary Wilson
or abids by 1T" the mine leader de-
manded.
.Thsrs 10 not anybody in the cabinet
respect moro than Secretary Wilson,
Ds. Gaslsld rsturned- "His powers as
i concilia&or are clearly defined by the
Law. Il 10 !npess!hle to Az prices
without aRsctlng labor. It Is !mpossi-
Bile 70 adjust wages without anectins
tF j
pneeA
Il If 4 "a Hsw He INesfprsts Raise.
II. y NOT my understanding that
sAry wilson made An offer. He
acted ~ Z conciliator and made sug-
sestIon In an effort to aid you in
reaching q solution. II your thesis Is
corrsct then another officer Of the gov
ernment would and himself In a POSI-
ton Of being unable to exercise his
authority. Al Secretary Wilson said
today. he appreciates that l am to de-
termine prices. and not he"
Mr.. Lewis pressed the point further
Al 70 whether the government STOOD
behind Dr.: Garfield or Secretary VIII
son. d. Garfield then made the nat
staten ent that tho cabinet backed his
decision. ---
1.-THE decision has been that the oas's
I have susgssted Is correct" DIR. Gar
delA said. - a. -.
.Theu the government has repudi-
ated Secrstary Wilson," commented
Mr.. Lewis. - ,-,mra .,ss
TIE head o. the mine workers aues-
TONED 81. GARFIELD az to Just how No
arrived a. the nsurs II per, cent, ask
;nx II HtNs increase in the cost of living
since the 1877 agreement was not
grsatsSl than - per cent.
Bkat Agreement Covers.
7p,. 0arneld said that was true, but
that thsyisl7 agreement aA to wages
was intended not only to cover the
cost Of living at that time. but to al
low Tor further war increases in prices
thruout the war but not beyond the
spring Of 1920. e u
, DR.. oarne,d emphasized" the fact
that in arriving at his conclusion ne
had inquired on the increase from the
ore war period and that some OF the
wages fixed in 1917 were higher than
1ustif,ed by the increase In the COST OF
living up to that time.