New-York tribune., 1919-11-14
Nem york Tribuns
I4r,,f,,,,t

Washington Rmreau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-Reports Ia
the Department of Justice TODAY from
agents in the bituminous fields showed
that the striking coal miners are be-
ginning to go back to work and that
no serious trouble OF any sort has de-
veioped. Some extremists are st:3,
holding out, but the proportion is said
to be small, and a return to somewhat
near normal figures is expected in a
few days
The Department of Justice tonight
made public telegrams between George
Hargrove, an Alabama representative
OF the mine workers, and Attorney
General Palmer, in which the govern
ment official made it clear that he
would proceed promptly against any
operator who refused to take miners
back to work and thereby restrict tie
production OF coal. The telegram from
Mr.. Hargrove said:
In compliance with the court order
Ct Judge Anderson the miners OF Ala
hama returned to work to-day. Hun
dreds We're discharged and turned back
from the mines by the companies. The
pubic wants coal The miners arc not
permitted to dig it. ask YOU what is
the Department OF Justice going to DO
about it?"
Palmer Ready to Act
Mr.. Palmer replied
our telegram received. Please wire
me immediately names OF companies
and officials thereof who have dis
charged or turned back miners who
returned to work in comp lance with
the court orde-. | shall take prompt
action against any operators who adopt
such methods to restrict Production"
Plans were completed tonight for
the meeting tomorrow between the
b tumlnors coal operators and miners
from all districts involved in the
strike, in an effort to bring peace to
the industry and assure the nation that
its coal supply will not be dangerously
reduced. Dozens of operators and rep
resentatives of the miners already are
in ashington, and the rest WI i reach
here tomorrow. The conference will
not meet in the morning, as originally
planned, but at the request of John
l.. Lewis, acting president of the
United Mine Workers, will begin in the
afternoon in order that MI Lewis and
other mine workers ofticia may ar
rive in time for The opening session.
No Definite Plan Ready
Secretary Wilson, of the Department
OF Labor, who called the conference
when the strike order was Cancelled by
the miners, was said to have no def
mite plan for a settlement Of existing
differences to lay before the confer
ence, but he may frame some concrete
propose which he will submit as sug-
gcstions on which to start negotiations.
DR.. Harry Garfield, Federal Fuel
ADMINISTRATOR to-day accepted an in
with him in the conferences. He is
thoroughly familiar with conditions in
the industry and is expected to help
in bringing about q solution There
have been reports that the sessions
might be public, but it was said to-
night that no plans shave been made to
open the doors to the public.
The government is hopeful that the
conference will be successful, and al
though its officers can act only as
mediators. the force of public opinion
operators and miners realize that an
agreement is for their own best inter-
ests, and that another disagreement
and strike would not be tolerated. The
government has no actual lever to use
on either side except publicity, but as
it showed its power in the strike sit
uaton, it is thought the miners will
not approach the conference anxious
to feel that power again.
Operators Seek New Scale
The executive committee Of the
operators of the central competitive
field issued a statement declaring their
desire to negotiate "a fair wage agree
ment at the earliest possible moment"
l. J. Il.
been impossible in the past "because
the miners demands have been COM
plicated with impossible collateral
questions" The statement said the
operators are not trying to trap the
miners into any admission in regard
Continued on page three