The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-04
STRIKE CONFERENCE
BREAKS UP IN ROW
Governments Offer Of IA Per
Cent Increase Is Rejected.
U. S. FAILS TO END TIEUP
Coal Mems Farley Adjourns Sine Die
Operators Agree to Accept Gar.
fields Proposal. While Lewis
Claims Injustice to Miners

Washington, NOV ~ The govern
ment's offer of u per cent nmtrdse
of wages was hafly reJr,tti 10y The
coal miners
As a result the contprpure hrtw'en
the miners and operators adjourned
sine die with the settlement NJ the
wage controversy still "in the air" No
provision was made for the resumption
Of the conference. the miners de''lar-
ing that they were going home and
sill tight"
The miners rejertion came after the
operators had accepted the govern
ment's proposal MS a basis for set
Element although they declared that
the increase with out raising the price
Of coal to the public would mean the
loss Of profits to a large number OF
mines and would seriously interfere
with production.
Statement by Lewis.
The following statement was dictat-
ed ny Acting President John L. Lewis
Of the United Mine Workers:
Ht JpihA 'Oh
ference adjourned sine die. The mine
workers representatives declined to
recommend to the miners any accept
ance Of the IA per cent increase Of
fered
THE operators pretended to be WILL
ing to grant this IA per cent increase,
hut in the same breath stated that they
A n. IaV
number of their mines unless they had
an increase in the selling price of coal.
II would he foolish for us TO attempt
70 make any agreement with the OPP
ptators unless their mines were to be
operated.
THE position of the mine workers
Is unchanged. We hold that the Uni
ted Stntes government cannot break
lis word. The pledge given by Secre-
tnry Of Labor Wilson to grant a 31.6
per cent increase in wages must be re-
deemed
in my Judgment Dr. Garfield and
the cabinet have committed the most
colossal blunder in the Industrial his
tory Of our nation. They are blindly
following an academic theory without
regard to justice TO the mine workers
or the effects of such theory upon the
people Of the country
Says Justice Is Denied.
The responsibility for the crisis now
confronting the nation must lie upon
tn SO statesmen who are using the
pJ~'ers of the government to Cypress
and deny justice TO the great element
Of citizenship directly concerned IN the
mining industry.
II cannot believe that the people Of
our country will indorse a policy Of
oppression and repression which
means continued industrial chaos. and
intense suffering on the part Of the
mine workers and our entire citizen
ship"
The letter sent to Doctor Garfield
by the operators of the central COM
pettive coal field. accepting the gov
crnment,s offer reads:
Recognizing the seriousness of the
present crisis and the urgent need Of
the country for coal. we wish to advise
Won that. subject to your approval and
conditioned upon the mines resuming
operations Immediately. the operators
scale committee OF the central COM
netitive coal field accept as a basis
for the settlement of the present wage
controversy and termination of the
strike. the figures submitted by -ou
10 the joint meeting of operators and
miners held yesterday evening, name
ly. an average increase OF IA per cent
10 be granted 10 all classes of mine Ia
hor such increase to be apportioned In
accordance with the wage bases that
are acceptable to the employees and
employers. thus preserving present
differentials. Otherwise than as above,
modified in complete accordance with
your proposal. the present contract in
all its term and conditions TO be con-
tinued In full force and effect until
March 81. 1922.
1--WE have already notified the miners
TO this effect.
Says Profits Eliminated.
AT the same time we wish 10 call
your attention to the fact that the ac-
ceptance OF this increase In wages
without any increase In selling prices
entirely eliminates the profits Of a
large number of mines. Such a larre
number, In fact. we fear that the pro-
ductIon of coal will be seriously af-
fected. We understand that operating
statistics for 1919 are not now In your
possession. and we shall rely upon the
government. when such statistics are
properly assembled and presented. to
make such adjustments In selling
prices as will permit these mines to
make such fair and reasonable profits