The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-16
Miners Resubmit
Original Demands
for Six-Hour Day

washin1ton Nov. 15,--After being
defeated at the plenary conference
this morning in their stand for :.
nation wide wage agreement the
coal miners late this afternoon at a
secret conference With the operators
IT the central field resubnitted their
original den1s nds for a eix-hour day,
a nve-dar week AND a so per cent
wage Increase II is now the opera
tors move in the further negotia-
lions for an snaicaele agreement on
will assure the country Of an ample
supply of fuel this winter,
when the executive session Of thu
wage scale committees of the miners
and oreraters of the central teid---
Ohio Indiana, Illinois and Western
Pennsylvania which comprise the
heart Of the hituninous coal dis
tricts-adjourned late this afternoon.
the next meeting was set for Mon
day morning a. 10 o'clock
At this time Thomas Brewster
chairman Of the operators scale com
mittee Of the central competitive
field will present the reply and
counter proposals of the operators
70 the demands. made this afternoon
by John l. Lewis, acting president
If the United Mine Workers OF
America
the operators Of the districts ex-
elusive Of the central nefd at meet
ing this afternoon organized com =
nittee to represent them here with
r. ". Lukens president Of the South
western Interstate Coal Operators
association as their chairman They
agreed that the agreement which i.
reached r. tire committees Of the
miners and operators 81 the centra,
competitive field will be made ap-
pficatie. with certain changes for
various districts. 10 the outiyin &
1eJe-
The defeat Of the miners in their
stand for wage agreement nego-
tiated On a universal basis for al.
the coal districts and not inaugu-
rated through an agreement In the
central competitive district. came
at the full conference this morning
presided over hv Secretary Of Labor
Wilson. When the operators refused
, 70 asr-~ TO this nroroxitier. Mr.
Lewis consented 70 have the niMeys
/ negotiate a wage agreement between
the committees Of the central feld
oni~.
Further pienarv sessions OF this
nuiners and operators are not ex-
pActeh. The hrsf two meetings were
/ held for the purpose Of bringing the
operators and miners together and
now II rs thought that all further ne
gotiations will be- carried on al.
rectfy between tbs twc sides n
executive ssssions '''''' $50
Although the hopes ef the opera
tors that the miners would come te
this conference with decidedly rscdi-
fed demands were blasted this af.
ernoon. ii was the concensus al
opinion at the conferences today that
the nninars this time would NOT stand
BAT" on their original demands. as
they were said to have done before
Before the meeting of the central
ssld corr nTfes~g'R, NJ. Il SKIS SAID tha,
the miners original demands weie
subject N negotiations. After the
meeting. when emrhafixing the Jus.
tice Of the demands, he concluded
with the statement
Stifi we are willing tn submit
, this nroposition to negotiation" "The
miners 40 not expect to obtain sc-
ceptance OF the original demands,
they merely submitted Their, as some :
. thing TO talk to- said Harry ~
Taylor, president Of the Nattona'
/ Coaf association following the meet
, ing of the tvo committees
:. we will not accept the dema rds.
IL would mean too great an increase
I ir the cost of coal to the public"
The order issued by Mr.. Lewis re-
scfnding the strike has not brough,
on a resumption in the production
Of coal Mr. Taylor charged. He said
only IN the non~union fields have the
miners gone back to work. while the
union fields are still idle
The public has been ted to he-
lieve that the resembling of the strike
order resulted. in a return to norma a!
production. But Lewis did not order
that the men go back; he merely can.
eeiIed the strike@order and the min
ers in the union ields have not gone
back" Mr.. Taylor said.