The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-25

on'S Statement.
| in need Of more supplies II would be u
| cruel neglect of our high duty to hui
| mauity to fail them.
In Favor Of Conference.
"I have read wfh interest the sug-
eestion made by you that the wage scale
committees OF the operators and miners
go into conference without reservation
for the purpose Of negotiating an agree
ment as though no demands had been
made or rejected. having due regard to
the interests OF their respective groups.
am IN accord with that suggestion.
mo body of men knows better the
details, intr cacies and technicalities of
mining than do the miners and operators.
No body Of men can work out the details
of a wage scale on a more equitable
basis. Their Judgment would undoubt-
eddy be based upon the sum total OF
knowledge OF the industry.
"'whatevec their Differences may be.
no matter how widely divergent their
viewpoints may be from each other. II Is
a duty that they owe TO soc ETY. to make
an earnest effort to negotiate those DIFF
ferences and to keep Tho mines of our
country In operation. After all. the pub
lie interest in this vital matter 10 the
paramount consideration Of the Govern
| neRt, and admits of no other action
than that OF consideration of peaceful
| settlement OF the matter ms suggested
by you.
"Tf for any reason the miners and
operators fail to come to a mutual under
standing, the interests of the public are
Of such vital Importance IN connection
with the production Of coal that II IL in
cunnbent upon them to refer the matters
in dispute to board of arbitration for
determination. and to continue the opera
| ton of the mines pending the decision OF
the board"
order WIN Affect 100000 Men.
After the conference President Lewis
| Of the mine workers said that every BIZ
luminous miner In the country would be
called out The strike order. he said.
| would affect 100000 men.
Secretary of Labor Wilson looked wan
after the conference had broken up. He
was asked IL that ended the Govern
ment's efforts and said that It did not.
The Government. he said. would do any
thing possible, but he admitted that he
had no new move in mind.
The American Federation OF Labor is
evidently prepa ring for long siege of
industrial strife. No general strike has
been called and there will scarcely be a
OF the heads of all international unions
| in Washington. Tire are many indica-
tions of a general concert of movement
anons the leaders here, and II Is be-
! 'ieved that so-called nationalists and
syndicalists are preparing to seize the
opportunity TO advance their piana
Labor leaders at the Industrial confer
ence repeated time after time that they
were being crowded hard In, conserva-
tive stand by their followers The meet
! ing of general conference of interna.
-tional officers that will bring many radi-
| cal leaders to washington would seem to
| indicate determination to make a fight.
accepting the gage from the employers
and giving an opportunity to those who
have chafed at conservatism.
| In addition to the I12 international
unions the four railroad brotherhoods.
the United Mine Workers and other or
CARNATIONS will be represented 1t is
understood AS likely that farmers or
ganizations that have taken a radical
stand VIII also be asked to Participate.
| kilograms to all OF the international
| unions were sent out to-day.
Canada to he Called Upon.
| The call was in response to a teiegra m
from the Illinois Federation OF Labor
| suggesting convention of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor to affect an Of
| fens've and defensive alliance of all
| unions Of the United States and Canada
to fight labor's battles.
The Illinois federation's telegram set
| forth:
| 'One of the objects of the conference
! should he the levying of an assessment
| on every organized worker in the United
States and Canada of not less than one
fourth Of his net earnings; and upon
every officer Of organised labor not less
than so per cent Of his salary until the
objects Of this drive be accomplished"
1t also said there must be IAN often.
sfve and defensive alliance Of the inter
national unions of the United states
! nd Canada and the railway brother
hoods. so as more effectively to fight out
the life and death struggles Of the work.
RS now in progress and impending"
Regarding the steel trust Il says;
"Too long has labor permitted these
| tyrants to keep the workers on the de-
| fensive."
The leaders In the Illinois Federation
Of Labor, including Victor Olander and