The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-12-08
VEIL or MYSTERY
N INPENETRABLE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.--Govern-
ment proposals. for settling the coal
strike were tonight cloaked In n veil
OF mystery which promised to lit
only nt indianapolis Tuesday when
the federal court and the leaders OF
the United Mine Workers alike win
be called on TO consider them.
Attorney General Palmer and his
special assistant Mr.. Auies. were
travelling TO indianapolis tonight on
the same train with John L. Lewis,
acting president. and William Green,
secretary OF the mine workers union
whose secret and equally secret con-
ference yesterday with Mr., Palmer
and Joseph y. Tumulty, secretary To
President Wilson. resulted In n pro-
vjsiopsl agreement to settle. Not
one of the participants would dis
cuss It's meaning or Intent.
In official quarters Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield speaking with brev-
ity aud emphasis. added only doubt
10 the situation.
my position haa not been budged
one inch and will not be-" ne said
II was recalled that yesterday DR..
Garfield had reiterated that not one
cent could be utded to the price of
coal 10 flnafSte wage increases to the
miners greater than the ~ per cent
he suggested which operators could
pay out OF profits. and that the gov
ernment was behind him In the
stand. II also was pointed out that
on November he suggested this
basis of agreement TO the miners.
with a proylso that an arbitration
commission he appointed by the
president 10 review his decision with
power TO change II II the commission
should findcSeconamical justification.
This proposal the miners represen-
tatives then INSTANTLY rejected.
From authoritative sources there
was only the attorney generals state
ment. issued last midnight that "a
definite. concrete proposition from
the president looking TO the speedy
settlement OF the strike" had been
taken before Lewis and Green, and
that they had agred to recommend
1t to the national board and policy
committee of the mine workers
union.
The miners representatives. II de-
ve:oped today. arrived In Washing
ton at noon on Saturday and were
closeted until midnight with the at
torney general They went from
tho department OF justice 10 the
pear until train time tonight. and
would not talk or add anything to
the attorney generals published ver-
sion of the situation. Who sent for
the miners leaders or whether they
came TO Washington of their own ac-
cord was question left unanswered
by all concerned.
That tho step taken guaranteed
the cessation OF tho colt strike of
the cessa ton Of the coal strike OF
out was not clymod anywhere. A
definite silence was maintained Of
fcially on this point. Likewise the
executive committee OF bitumlnous
coal operators watching the gov.
errmcnt activities had no informA-
ton which 70 would divulge tonight
Gussipe was active over the situa-
lion which has involved exclusive
attention 0f most government chiefs
for two weeks II was said in labor
circles that the presidents proposal
would result in giving the miners
mare than previous government sug-
Erstions would allow other YER
sidrs said that "A practical repeti-
ton Of IN Garfield's arbitration
offer had been Professionally accept
ed by the mine workers union
chiefs
II was further said that a dif-
ference Of method n dealing with
the strike had developed among the
government agencies chiefly con
csrnei. though al were working
toward a settlement But In re-
sporslble quarters only silence or
statements guarded 10 the utnos,
were available
Neauwhis, Dr. Garfield labored
most Of iht day on multitude OF
details OF the great Job OF trying
90 conserve every pound of coal
Officials were confident that the
country would weather the emery
.r,v and those who professed 10
see elrN settlement of the strike
on terms agreed 90 by the attorney
genera. aud Lewis predicted that Il
would D., only a short while before
the coal output would be back 10
normal