Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-12-08
ALL SILENT
REGARDING
INTENT Of
GATHERING
T uel Administrator Adds
Only Doubt to Situation
by Asserting That His
Position Has Not Been
Budged One Inch.

Washington, Dec. 7.-Govern-
ment proposals for settling the
coal strike are cloaked in a veil
of mystery which promises to
lift only at Indianapolis Tuesday
when the federal court and the
leaders of the United Mine
workers, alike will be called up
on to consider them.
Attorney General Palmer and
his special assistant, Judge Ames, trav
eled to Indianapolis on the same train
with John L. Lewis, whose secret visit
and equally secret conference Saturday
with Mr.. Palmer and Joseph II. 1n-
multy, secretary to President Wilson.
resulted in a provisional agreement to
settle.
Not one of the participants would dis
cnss its meaning or intent in any detail.
Before leaving for indianapolis Mr.. Pal
mel said he was quite sure that the end
Of the strike was in sight. 1t was
learned that he would confer with Judge
Anderson Of the federal district court
on reaching Indianapolis
Garfield Stands Firm.
Fuel Administrator Garfield. speaking
with brevity and emphasis. added only
doubt to the situation.
My position has not been budged one
inch and viii not be- he said.
1t was recalled that Saturday DR.
Garfield had recited that not one cent
could be added to the price of coal to
finance wage increases to the miners
greater than the Il per cent he sug
gested which operators could pay out
of profits, and that the government was
behind him in the stand.
1t also was pointed ont that on Nov.
% he suggested this basis of agreement
to the miners, with a proyiso that an
srbitration committee be appointed hy
the president to review his decision with
power to change it if the commission
should find economical Justification. fliis
proposal the miners representatives in
stantly rejected.
From other authoritative sources there
was only the attorney generals state
ment that q definite concrete proposition
from the president looking to the speedy
settlement of the strike had been taken
before Lewis and Green and that they
Ind agreed to recommend it to the ma
tional board and policy committee of the
general mine workers union.
Question Is Unanswered.
whether they came to Washington Of
their own accord, was n question left
unanswered by all concerned.
That the step taken guaranteed the
cessation of the coal strike ON the part
of organized miners still out. was not
claimed anywhere. A definite silence
was maintained officially on this point.
Likewise the executive committee of
hituminous coal operators watching the
governmental activities had no informa-
ton which it would dyulge.
It was said in labor circles that the
presidents proposal would result in Civ
ing the miners more than previous gov
ernment suggestions would allow. Other
versions said that practical repetition
of DR. Garfield's arbitration offer had
been professionally accepted by the mine
workers union chief.
Garfield Saving Coal.
1t was further said that difference
of method in dealing with the strike
had developed among the government
agencies chiefly concerned, though all
were working towards settlement
DR. Garfield labored most of the day
on a multitude of details of the great
Job trying to conserve every pound of
coal Officials were confident that the
country would weather the emergency
and those who professed to see early
settlement of the strike on terms agreed
to By the attorney general predicted
that it would be only a short while be-
fore the coal output would be back to
normal.
Meanwhile. however the fuel ad-
ministrator. acting with regional coal
committees continued to maintain re-
strction of fuel supplies of concerns
not on the priority list and to reduce
nassenoer trains as much as nnssihle