The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-04
MUCH BENEATH
PLACID SURFACE
Many influences at Work
y Leading to Early End Of
Coal Mine Strike.

washington, Nov. Al. N. Sd
Despite lack of any sensational
turn in the coal strike situation up
to this the fourth day since the
walkout, it is believed here a settle
ment of the trouble will not be long
| delayed.
Under the placid surface Of things
many influences are at work, all
| leading toward that end. Both gov
ernment circles and moderate labor
groups are known to be working in
concert to effect reconciliation be-
| tween the coal miners and the oper-
| ators before the public has time to
suffer the horrors of a coal famine.
! Samuel Gompers, it is known here.
is using his influence to obtain "a
prompt settlement along moderate
I lines.
Edgar Wallace, official representa-
| tive of the united mine workers in
| Washington, and one of the few
| leaders whose tongue is not tied by
the Indianapolis injunction, stated
| that the miners are willing to nego-
| tiate with the operators on either one
| of two bases: First, on the basis of
4 present selling price of coal,. other
wise on the ability of the operators
to pay; second on the basis of tho
present cost of living.
| That ultimately the adjustment be-
tween the operators and miners will
be made, at least in part, on the cost
of living basis may be accepted as
a foregone conclusion, whether the
federal government acts as supreme
arbiter or the nearly 100000 men out
on strike deal directly with the oper-
ators-as many, If not all, of the min
ers' leaders prefer.
In view of this fact, statistics pub
lished in the October review of the
bureau of labor, just issued become
extremely timely, as furnishing ir
advance some of the argument,
which would be set forth in such {
parley.
The demands of the miners are fol
constant improvement, a thirty -houl
week and living wage, which the,
set at SO per cent. increase in th'
present pay.
The miners now out on strike OBJ
tained new deal in November, 1917
however, at which time the presen
scale of wages was agreed upon
Since then the shrinkage in what
dollar will buy has not been so great
From November, 1917, to June. 1913
there was 20 per cent. rise in thu
cost OF living, and between June o
this year and August a further rise
estimated by the Annalist at about
; per cent, by Bradstreets' at So pei
cert. and by Dun's at about the same
has been registered. Therefore, ac'
cording to the figures, if dollal
! bought a dollars worth of stuff II
the fall of 1917, when the miners
new wage scale took effect, "A dolla
on Aug. 1 of this year would bu!
|, only about rs cents worth.
I AS to cost since Aug l authoritie
r seem to differ. In some parts of tn
3 country prices seem to have riser
: still higher, in others the cost of liv
J ing appears to have lowered some
what.
Representatives of miners her
seem as strangely opposed as ever t
calling off the strike as a prcfase I
talking. What they wish above a
is for some member of the govern
: ment. preferably Secretary Wilson
:. himself miner and hitherto enjoy
n ing their confidence implicitly,
o pave the way for an immediate con
Q ference with the operators and lC
;. the two sides thresh the trouble OF
: there on a basis of the present pric
h Of coal and the operators ability [
/ pay on the cost of living.
r Failing in that. many hope tha
s between now and next Saturda!
4 when the motion for a temporary in
s junction, is due to come up in til
Q federal courts at Indianapolis. it wi
n be possible to arrange a basis 9
v least for an understanding which wi
e be near enough TO settlement I
warrant. first, the calling off of m
- proceedings, and second, ordering III
] men back to the mines