The Washington times., 1919-11-20
OPERATORS ASK us.
AID DT00PEN MINES
By JEAN KNOTT.
Continued from First Pase.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
$50. 500. 600. The day laborers will get
$50. .0OO, 900.
Reports coming to the coal opera
tors at the conferelce this morning
indicated an Increasing coal shortage
in the central and trans-Mississippt
States The priority rule to distribu-
tion-are being vigorously applied by
the Railroad Administration. This
section of the country is dependent
almost wholly on union mines coal.
The big non-unfon fields are located
In districts contiguous to the eastern
States.
Glass plants, brick and terra Gotta
kiins are other industries not rated
az prime essentials, and have received
instructions to gradually cool their
furnaces with a view of an entire coal
supply being withdrawn as soon as it
can be done without damage from,
contraction to the furnaces.
Showdown In "a Hours.
The acid test of the conference be-
tween miners and operators-she
showdown" on the question as to
whether either side is willing to make
sacrifice to safeguard the American
public from the horrors of q coal
famine-comes within the next TWEEN
ty-rour nours.
Fuel Administrators Garfield is
swinging the "big stick" carefully.
and without favoritism for either fac
tion- He has the strong support cf
President Wilson in stressing the one
single outstanding issue-that an
agreement must be reached and that
coal must be produced, no matter
what pride OF opinion has to crumbie
or what individual interest has to
succumb.
Somebody will have to give way"
said an official today. 1T will be
fatal to waste another week in tho
kind of conference that is beiu.,
staged here now"
Would Take over Mines.
After hearing DIR. Garfield's state
ment yesterday, miners and operators
knew that the Government would in
stitute a sweeping investigation of
the entire bituminous industry ana
take IL over temporarily, IL the dead
lock continues. The Administration
rapidly Is assembling it's forces to
prove to the public that IT will net
daily with the threat of a coal famine.
An open letter from President vii
son to the coal miners is a possibility
OF the near future. 1t Is plain now to
Attorney General Palmer that the
strike injunction measure has failed
of its main purpose, the resumption
of coal production, and that further
procedure along that line is imprac-
ticable, although certain officials ad-
vocate wholesale arrests of district
leaders and others who are accused
of melting the miners to stay away
from work, despite the action taken
by the leaders at Indianapolis.
1t is recognized now that even a
agreement reached in con-
ference here, and accepted by the Of
fcials of the United Mine Workers
under pressure. may not be satisfac-
tory to the miners on strike, and that
they will refrain from work for weeks
and even months to come.
Deny Ultimatum.
Operators in conference here are
insistent that President John Lewis,
OF the United Mine Workers Union.
make a new attempt to get the men
back TO IN. mines.
The ope, ators deny they have pre-
sented ar ultimatum to the miners
refusing 20 consider wage scales until
the men return to work. But they ad-
nit that the suggestion has been
made to the miners chiefs that they
may hasten agreement by getting the
men back to work.
Meanwhile the nations supply of
coal Is running short. When the
strike began November !, coal deal
ers had a months supply. In addi-
tion. much coal just mined was in
transit TO dealers- Most of this,
seized by the R3ilroad Administra-
tion, now has Zen used. The re-
mainder is stored in cars on railroad
sidings.
Miners began the strike prepared
TO hold out at least thirty days.
December 1 thus should bring both
sides near the breaking point. But
before that the public will begin to
make itself felt in the situation.
Government officials believe. Letters
and kilograms are flooding almost
every Government office in Washing
ton Congressman and Senators are
being bombsrded.