Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-08
President Wilson's Proposal
Reporte d Acceptable to
Workers, But Nature Of
Compromise a Mystery.
FUEL HEAD REFUSES
TO BUDGE AN inch
Garfield Reiterates That Not
One Cent Could Be Added to
Price Of Coal to Finance
Miners Wage Increases.

washington, Lee. Z. -- JOverH-
ment proposals for settling the coal
strike tonight cloakcd in veil OF
mystery which promised to lift only
at Indianapolis Tuesday, when the
federal court and the leaders Of the
United Mine Workers alike will be
called upon to consider them.
Attorney General Palmer and his
special assistant, Judge Ames, were
travelling to Indianapolis tonight on
the same train with John L. Lewis,
acting president, and William Green.
secretary of the mine workers
unicl. whose secret visit and equally
secret conference yesterday with
Mr.. Palmer and Joseph P Tumulty.
secretary to President Wilson, re-
suited in provisional Agreements. to
settle. Not one Of the participants
would discuss its meaning or intent
in any detail Before boarding the
train for Indianapolis Mr.. Palmer,
however, said he was quite sure that
the end Of the strike was in sight.
It was learned that he would confer
with Judge Anderson Of the federal
district court on reaching Indian
apolis.
In official quarters. Fuel Admins
trator Garfield, speaking with brev-
ity and emphasis, added only doubt
to the situation.
Garfield Won't Bulge.
"My position has not been budged
one inch aud will not be-" he said.
1t was recalled that yesterday DR..
Garfield had reiterated that not one
cent could be added to the price of
coal to finance wage increases to
the miners greater than the IA per
cent he suggested which operators
could pay out of profits, and that the
government was behind him in the
stand. 1t also was pointed out that
on November 20 he suggested this
basis of agreement to the miners
with proviso that an arbitration
commission be appointed by the
president to review his decision, with
power to change it if the commits
sion should find economical injusti-
hcation. This proposal the miners
representatives then instantly re-
jected
From other authoritative sources
there was only the attorney gem
erals statement issued last midnight
that definite concrete proposition
from the president looking to the
speedy settlement of the strike"
had been taken before Lewis and
Green, and that they had agreed to
recommend it to the national board
and policy committee of the mine
workers union.
Miners Heads Silent.
The miners representatives, it de-
veloped today, arrived in Washing
ton at noon Saturday and were
closeted until midnight with the at
torney general. They went from
the Department. of Justice to the
home of friend and did not appear
until train time tonight, and would
not then talk, or add anything to
the attorney generals published ver-
sion of the situation. Who sent for
the miners leaders, or whether they
came to Washington of their own
accord. was question left un-
answered by all concerned.
That the step taken guaranteed
the cessation of the coal strike on
the part of the organized miners
still out was not claimed anywhere.
A definite silence was maintained
officially on this point. Likewise the
executive committee of bituminous.
coal operators watching the govern
mental activities had no 'informa,
tion which it would ,divulge to-
night.
Merely Conjecture.
Gossip was active over the situa-
ton, which has involved almost cx-
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