Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-12
COAL MINERS AND
OWNERS EXPECTED D
To FIND WAY To
SETTLE DISPUTE
Plan for Final Adjustment of
the Controversy Between
Operators and Employees Is
Thought to Be In Sight,
TO HOLD CONFERENCE
IN WASHINGTON SOON
Both Factions Have Agreed to
Secretary Wilson'S SuggeS-
ton That They Meet and
Talk the Situation Over,

! ain llIO OllQQlIUll OVClI
MORNING JOURNAL sPEclkL LEASED wtRs
Indianapolis, Ind, Nov 1.-THE
way for the final adjustment of the
controversy between the bituminous
coal operators and the United Mine
Workers of America, which resulted
in a strike of $4,000 union miners
and action by the government in the
federal court appeared in sight to-
night.
While the miners representatives,
who earlier in the day had agreed
to comply with the mandate of
United States District Judge A. b.
Anderson and later today mailed an
order resembling the strike, were
discussing the future policy of the
organization, kilograms were received
from Secretary of Labor Wilson and
Thomas T. Brewster, chairman of
the operators scale committee, by
John l.. Lewis, acting president of
the miners, inviting the miners rep
resentatives into a conference.
Mr.. Lewis accepted the invitation
of Secretary Wilson to meet the
bltuminous operators of the country
in Washington Friday at IL a. m.
and replied to Mr. Brewster, who re-
quested at a meeting of the central
competitive scale committee with
the operators Of the district in Wash
ington Monday November II, ITO
negotiate a contract to be in force
upon the termination of the con-
tract now In effect" that the miners
already had accepted the invitation
of Mr.. Wilson. Copies of the miners
kilograms to Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Brewster were not available early
tonight, but their contents were
made public.
In commenting on the telegram
from Mr.. Brewster, Ellis Searles, ed
itor of the United Mine Workers
Journal, and other officials of the
organization who were under the inn
preston that Mr.. Brewsters message
was sent after he had received Sec
retary Wilson'S invitation, declared
they saw in the operators offer n
deliberate attempt to entrap the
miners into tacit- acknowledgment
that the Washington agreement was
still in force. The miners have con-
tended throughout the controversy
that the wage contract has expired.
Labor Leaders Surprised.
The final breaking up of the strike,
with announcement by the miners Of
ficials that they you'd heed the COM
mand of the federal court, brought
expressions of surprise from labor
leaders who frankly had not expect
ed it.
There was no statement from fed
GRAFTON of labor officials beyond a re-
ply by the executive council to the
statement issued last night by Attor-
ney General Palmer There were few
reports as to the return of the miners
to work and it was realized that there
would be considerable confusion until
the legal points had been cleared up
and Lewis cancellation order had
reached all districts
Some labor officials were doubtful If
the miners as whole would go back
to work before adoption of new
wage program. 1t was because of this
uncertainty that Secretary Wilson and
Mr.. Brewster entered Immediately on
their task.
Every effort will be made to reach
a speedy agreement at the Joint con-
ference, especially if miners show lit
tie disposition meanwhile to return to
work
The meetings will not be public. All
of the former demands, including the
five-day week, the six-hour day and
a so per cent wage increase will be
wiped from the slate and a new start
made.
Meanwhile with the strike officially
declared Off the important task, as
both sides see 1t is to get coal produc-
ton back to normal
Resembling Orders Mailed Out.
1t was said at the international
headquarters of the organization that
practically all of the copies of the
order which called off the nation
wide bituminous coal strike were In
the mails before the time limit set By
Judge Anderson--6 o'clock this eve
ming. The recall order previously had
been submitted to the court, who
characterized it as good faith ef-
fort to comply with the courts man
date. This was after the general com
mittee of the miners, composed of in
ternational officials, district presi-
dents and members of the executive
board and scale committee, had been
in session approximately Is hours and
at 4:10 this morning decided to com
ply with the mandate of the court.
After the general committee, which
went into session at 2 o'clock today
as policy committee, had decided
to accept the invitation of Secretary
Wilson and refuse that of Mr. Brew
ster, the committee adjourned at , |
o'clock and many of the members be- !
gan to make preparations for their |
homeward trips.
The Wilson invitation was not linn !
tied to the scale committee of the |
mine workers as was the Brewster |
William Green, secretary |
treasurer of the union, explained that |
every district in the United States |
would be represented at the confer |
ance Friday. The miners who will |
attend the meeting will include the
officers, district nres-
ients or whomsoever the districts
5.>-.-s.,,,, /
Continued on Page Two)